Bio-driver apparatus for detecting a nucleic acid

ABSTRACT

A cleavable signal element applicable to quantitative and qualitative assay devices, using a cleavable technique specifically responsive to a complementary double strand or single strand of nucleic acids, and a nucleic acid hybridization assay method and device using the cleavable signal element are provided. Using the cleavable technique responsive to the complementary double strand or single strand of nucleic acids, detection sensitivity to a target nucleic acid can be increased, and diagnosis and detection reliability can be improved twice through in-situ determinations. Through simultaneous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and expression profile determination, more accurate diagnosis for many diseases can be achieved. The assay device can be easily modified to be suitable for detection with general laser-based detection systems such as CD-ROM readers. Information read from the assay device is digitized as software and transmitted to and received by doctors and patients through a computer network or wirelessly, which enables construction of remote diagnosis systems.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. divisional application filed under 35 USC1.53(b) claiming benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 10/470,487 filed in the UnitedStates on Feb. 17, 2004, which claims earlier benefit of PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/KR02/00126 filed Jan. 28, 2008 and also which claimsearlier benefit of Korean Application No. 2001-3956 filed in Korea onJan. 27, 2001, all of which this application hereby incorporates byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cleavable signal elements using acleavage technique specifically responsive to a complementary doublestrand or single strand of nucleic acids, which are applicable toquantitative and qualitative assay devices, and a nucleic acidhybridization assay method and device using the cleavable signalelement.

BACKGROUND ART

To date, most clinical diagnostic assays for the detection of smallquantities of analytes in fluids have been conducted as individualtests; that is, as single tests conducted upon single samples to detectindividual analytes. More recently, multiple-sample preparation andautomated reagent addition devices and multiple-sample assay devices,either in parallel or in serial procession, have been designed toimprove efficiency and economy. Such automated reagent preparationdevices and automated multiplex analyzers are often integrated into asingle device.

Large-scale clinical laboratory analyzers of this type can accuratelyperform hundreds of assays in one hour automatically orsemi-automatically. However, these analyzers are expensive and onlycentralized laboratories and hospitals can afford them. Suchcentralization necessitates sample transport to the laboratory orhospital, and often precludes urgent or emergent analysis oftime-critical samples.

Thus, to address these problems, there is an increasing need forclinical analyzers which are cheap and easy-to-handle for everyone, suchas clinical analyzers suitable for use at the patient bedside or in thepatient's home without dedicated detectors. Blood glucose and pregnancytesters are well known examples.

Although useful tests of this sort have been offered for many years, amajor breakthrough was the introduction of solid phase immunoassays andother strip tests since 1980. Most notable are Advance® test (Johnson &Johnson), TAM™ hCG assay (Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc.), Clear Blue Easy™(Unipath Ltd.), and ICON (Hybritech). Commercially Available areQuantab™ (Environmental Test Systems), AccuLevel® (Syva), AccuMeter®(ChemTrak), Clinimeter™ (Crystal Diagnostics), and Q.E.D.™ (Enxymatics).One of the newest is a thermometer-type assay device (Ertinghausen G.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,556) that is not yet commercially available. Thesesystems can be used to assay blood levels of therapeutic drugs andgeneral chemical analytes such as cholesterols.

One disadvantage, however, of each of these formats is that only one, ora very limited number, of assays can conveniently be performedsimultaneously.

To fill the gap between massive analyzers and strip testers, some smallinstruments have been developed. The most notable is Eclipse ICA™(Biotope, Inc.). This device is an automated centrifugal immunoassay andchemistry system. Patient samples are pipetted into cassettes that areplaced into a rotary device. Sixteen tests can be run in approximately17 minutes. The results are measured by UV/Nisible spectrometry or byfluorometry.

Despite these developments, there still exists a need for a simpledevice that can easily be used for multiple quantitative assays withouta specialized detector.

<Spatially Addressable Probe Assays>

Recently, spatially addressable arrays of different biomaterials havebeen fabricated on solid supports. These probe arrays permit thesimultaneous analysis of a large number of analytes. Examples are arraysof oligonucleotides or peptides that are fixed to a solid support andthat capture complementary analytes. One such system is described byFodor et al., Nature, Vol. 364, Aug. 5, 1993. Short oligonucleotideprobes attached to a solid support bind complementary sequencescontained in longer strands of DNA in liquid sample; the sequence of thesample nucleic acids is then calculated by computer based on thehybridization data so collected.

There remains a need for an economical system to fabricate spatiallyaddressable probe arrays in a simplified format that provides both forready detection and the ability to assay for large numbers of testsubstances (i.e. analytes) in a fluid test sample in a single step, or aminimum number of steps, or assay for a single test substance or analytein a large number of fluid test samples.

<Spatially Addressable Laser-Based Detection Systems>

Several devices permit spatially addressable detection of digitalinformation. In particular, several formats have been developed based ondifferential reflectance and transmittance of recording information.

In conventional audio or CD-ROM compact disks, digital information ordigitally encoded analog information is encoded on a circular plasticdisk by means of indentations in the disk. Typically, such indentationsare on the order of one-eighth to one-quarter of the wavelength of theincident beam of a laser that is used to read the information from thedisk. The indentations on the disk cause destructive interference withinthe reflected beam, which corresponds to a bit having a “zero” value.The flat areas of the disk reflect the laser beam back to a detector andthe detector gives a value of “one” to the corresponding bit.

In another convention, a change of intensity of a reflected light beamgets a value of one while a constant intensity corresponds to zero.

Since the indentations have been formed in the disk in a regular patternfrom a master copy containing a predetermined distribution of bits of“zero” and bits of “one”, the resultant signal received by the detectoris able to be processed to reproduce the same information that wasencoded in the master disk.

The standard compact disk is formed from a 12-cm polycarbonatesubstrate, a reflective metal layer, and a protective lacquer coating.The format of current CDs and CD-ROMs is described by the ISO 9660industry standard.

The polycarbonate substrate is optical-quality clear polycarbonate. In astandard pressed, or mass-replicated CD, the data layer is part of thepolycarbonate substrate, and the data are impressed in the form of aseries of pits by a stamper during the injection molding process. Thestamping master is typically glass.

Pits are continuously spirally impressed in the CD substrate. Thereflective metal layer applied thereupon, typically aluminum, assumesthe shape of the solid polycarbonate substrate, and differentiallyreflects the laser beam to the reading assembly depending on thepresence or absence of “pits.” An acrylic lacquer is spin-coated as athin layer on top of the reflective metal layer to protect it fromabrasion and corrosion.

Although similar in concept and compatible with CD readers, theinformation is recorded differently in a recordable compact disk (CD-R).In CD-R, the data layer is separate from the polycarbonate substrate.The polycarbonate substrate instead has impressed upon it a continuousspiral groove as an address for guiding the incident laser. An organicdye is used to form the data layer. Cyanine or a metal-stabilizedcyanine compound is generally used to form the data layer. Analternative material is phthalocyanine. One such metallophthalocyaninecompound is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,696.

In CD-R, the organic dye layer is sandwiched between the polycarbonatesubstrate and the metallized reflective layer, usually 24 carat gold,but alternatively silver, of the media. Information is recorded by arecording laser of appropriate preselected wavelength that selectivelymelts “pits” into the dye layer, causing the pits to becomenon-translucent. The reading sensor reads the presence or absence ofpits from refractivity rather than differential reflectivity by physicalpits in the standard CD. As in a standard CD, a lacquer coating protectsthe information layer.

Other physical formats for recording and storing information have beendeveloped based on the same concept as the compact disk: creation ofdifferential reflectance or transmittance on a substrate to be read bylaser. One such format is termed digital versatile disk (DVD). A DVDlooks like standard CD: it is a 120-mm (4.75 inch) disk with a hole inthe center for engaging a rotatable drive mechanism. Like a CD, data isrecorded on the disk in a spiral trail of tiny pits, and the disks areread using a laser beam. In contrast to a CD, which can storeapproximately 680 million bytes of digital data under the ISO 9660standard, the DVD can store from 4.7 billion to 17 billion bytes ofdigital data. The DVD's larger capacity is achieved by making the pitssmaller and the spiral tighter, that is, by reducing the pitch of thespiral, and by recording the data in as many as four layers, two on eachside of the disk. The smaller pit size and tighter pitch require thatthe reading laser wavelength be smaller. While the smaller wavelength iscompatible with standard pressed CDs, it is incompatible with currentversions of the dye-based CD-R.

Thus, a single sided/single layer DVD can contain 4.7 GB of digitalinformation. A single sided/dual layer DVD can contain 8.5 GB ofinformation. A Dual sided/single layer disk can contain 9.4 GB ofinformation, while a dual sided/dual layer DVD contains up to 17 GB ofinformation.

Depending on the capacity, the disk may have one to four informationlayers. In the 8.5 GB and 17 GB options, a semi-reflector is used inorder to access two information layers from one side of the disk. Forthe 8.5 GB DVD and 17 GB options, the second information layer per sidemay be molded into the second substrate or may be added as aphotopolymer layer. In either case, a semi-reflector layer is requiredto allow both information layers to be read from one side of the disk.For the 17 GB DVD, it is necessary to produce two dual-layer substrates,and bond them together.

The DVD laser reader is designed to adjust its focus to either layerdepth so that both of them can be quickly and automatically accessed.

All of the above-described formats require that the disk be spun. Thenominal constant linear velocity of a DVD system is 3.5 to 4.0 metersper second (slightly faster for the larger pits in the dual layerversions), which is over 3 times the speed of a standard CD, which is1.2 mps.

<Detection Method of DNA Chips>

DNA chips refer to chips having highly immobilized DNA probes ofinterest on solid substrates and are used for the analysis of a geneexpression profile, genetic defects, etc., in samples. To investigatewhether the sample contains a target nucleic acid that binds to theprobe immobilized on the substrate, a detection system therefor isrequired.

Most currently-available genetic analysis DNA chips employ a method offluorescently labeling a sample DNA, reacting it with the provesimmobilized on the chip, and detecting the unreacted fluorescentmaterial remaining on the chip surface using a confocal microscope orcharge coupled device (CCD) imager (U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,096). However,such optical detection method is disadvantageous in size reduction andcannot display digitized outputs. For these reasons, research on thedevelopment of a new detection method for electrical signal outputs isactively being conducted.

Many research institutes, including Clinical Micro Sensors, areresearching the electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization using ametal compound that is liable to oxidation/reduction (U.S. Pat. Nos.6,096,273, 6,090,933). Separate compounds containing easilyoxidizable/reducible metals form a complex upon DNA hybridization, andthe complex is electrochemically detected (Anal. Chem., Vol., 70, pp.4670-4677, 1998; J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 119, pp. 9861-9870, 1997;Analytica Chemica Acta, Vol, Vo. 2886, pp. 216-224, 1994; BioconjugateChem., Vol. 8, pp. 906-913, 1997). However, this electrochemical methodstill needs separate labeling.

Approaches to assay methods not using the fluorescent label or any otherlabels have been actively made. As a result, a method of measuring adifference in mass before and after binding using a quartz crystalmicrobalance (Anal. Chem., Vol. 70, pp, 1288-1296, 1998), an assaymethod using matrix assisted laser description ionization (MALDI) massspectrometry (Anal. Chem., Vol. 69, pp. 4540-4546, 1997, U.S. Pat. No.6,043,031) were developed.

Even a single-base difference can be analyzed using a microfabricatedcantilever, which is a mechanical sensor type for measuring molecularbinding force before and after binding of DNA probe and target (Science,Vol., 288, pp. 316-318, 2000; Proc. Natl., Acad. Sci. USA, 98, 2560,2001). However, this method needs additional equipment, such as a laser,for accurate measurement of cantilever beam deflection.

The present invention relates to the field of diagnosis and detection ofsmall quantities of materials in fluids. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide cleavable signal elements using a cleavagetechnique specifically responsive to a double strand or single strand ofnucleic acids or oligonucleotides having a complementary sequence, whichare applicable to quantitative and qualitative assay devices, and anucleic acid hybridization assay method and device using the cleavablesignal element.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an accuratemethod and device of diagnosing a variety of diseases from both singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and gene expression profileobtained using the nucleic acid hybridization assay device.

An analytical apparatus based on the nucleic acid hybridization assaymethod and device using the cleavage technique can be modified to usethe standard laser-based detection system, such as CD-ROM reader or DVDreader, and can be coupled to a detector including an optical device, anelectrochemical device, or a capacitance and impedance measurementdevice. The analytical apparatus and method according to the presentinvention are useful in both detecting a number of individual analytesin a test sample and detecting a single analyte in a large number ofseparate samples.

It is still another object of the present invention is to provide anremote diagnostic system providing convenience to both patients anddoctors by transmitting and receiving the information read from theanalytical apparatus and digitalized as computer software, through anexisting communication network, such as the Internet.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acidhybridization assay method and device applicable to quantitative andqualitative assay devices, which use a cleavage technique specificallyresponsive to a complementary double strand of nucleic acids of aparticular sequence.

In the present invention, cleavage is performed using a restrictionenzyme specifically responsive to only a double strand of a particularsequence. Hereinafter, the particular sequence is referred to as a“restriction sequence”, and each single strand of the restrictionsequence is referred to as a “restriction probe”. The restriction probeis additionally ligated to one end of a capture probe that has acomplementary sequence to a target DNA and thus is hybridized to thetarget DNA, and then immobilized on a substrate. The restriction probeand capture probe can be designed collectively as a single probe. Informing a double strand from the capture probe and restriction probe,the restriction probe is cleaved by the restriction enzyme, and thus therestriction and capture probes are collectively referred to as“cleavable capture probes” or “cleavable signal elements”.

Although use of the restriction enzyme that specifically responds to arestriction sequence of the designed restriction probe is well known inthe field, it is preferable to design the restriction probe such thatthe sequence of the restriction probe ligated to one end of the captureprobe does not overlap with the sequence of the capture probe.

The sequence of the capture probe is determined to be specific to ananalyte of interest for diagnosis or analysis purpose. As the captureprobe contacts a sample containing a target nucleic acid having acomplementary sequence to the capture probe, the capture probe forms adouble strand with the target nucleic acid through hybridization. Atthis time, the restriction probe attached to one end of the captureprobe still remains as a single strand and does not form the doublestand.

To form a double strand of the non-hybridized restriction probe, asolution mixture containing four dNTPs and a DNA polymerase required forDNA extension are added. Formation of a double-strand of the restrictionprobe is achieved through DNA extension using the target nucleic acidhybridized to the capture probe as a primer.

Once the cleavable capture probe forms a complete double strand throughhybriziation of the capture probe to the target nucleic acid andformation of the restriction probe double strand, the double-strandedrestriction probe is cleavable by the restriction enzyme. After cleavageof the double strand by the restriction enzyme, the cleaved signalelement is removed from the substrate through washing.

In contrast, when the capture probe contacts a sample that does not havea complementary nucleic acid sequence to the capture probe, thecleavable capture probe cannot form the double strand, so it remainsattached to the substrate after the addition of the restriction enzymeand washing. The cleavable capture probe remaining on the substrate isreferred to as an “uncleaved probe”. To improve the sensitivity of adetector, a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure can be optionallyformed on the substrate by contacting the uncleaved probe withfluorescent labels or other labeling elements such as metalmicrospheres.

After sample-to-probe contact, reaction using the DNA polymerizationsolution and the restriction enzyme, and washing, detection of thepresence or absence of the uncleaved probe or “label-attached uncleavedprobe” structure on the substrate by a detector including an opticaldevice, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or acapacitance and impedance measurement device, indicates the presence orabsence of a particular analyte.

As described above, “uncleaved probes (cleavable capture probes notcleaved and adhering to the substrate)” or “label-attached uncleavedprobe” structures act as signal elements for the presence of particularanalytes. The presence of the cleavable signal element (uncleaved signalelement) on the substrate means that sample does not contain aparticular analyte, and the absence of the cleavable signal element(cleaved signal element) from the substrate means that sample contains aparticular analyte.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid hybridization assay methodusing the cleavable capture probe as a cleavable signal element.

In general, the assay method using the assay device and a cleavagetechnique specifically responsive to a particular sequence involves:contacting the assay device with a liquid sample; reacting the cleavablesignal probe with a DNA polymerization solution to form a double strand;contacting the cleavable capture probe with a restriction enzyme tocleave the double strand; removing the cleaved double strand throughwashing; and detecting the presence or absence of the cleavable signalelement on a solid support substrate using the detector including anoptical device, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, ora capacitance and impedance measurement device, as described above.

After washing, a label may be optionally attached to the uncleaved proberemaining on the solid support substrate to form a “label-attacheduncleaved probe” structure. This label attachment improves thesensitivity of the detector including an optical device, anelectrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device.

According to the present invention, the presence of a particular analytecan be double checked through two steps, thereby increasing assayreliability. As a first step, after contact with a sample, whether thecapture probe is double-stranded or not with the target nucleic acid isdetermined. As a second step, after the reaction with the DNApolymerization solution, the restriction enzyme treatment, and thewashing, whether the cleavable capture probe remains on the substrate ornot is determined in situ. Therefore, the particular analyte can bedetected with higher reliability.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an assay devicecomprising a solid support substrate on which a plurality of cleavablecapture probes (cleavable signal elements) are deposited in aspatially-addressable pattern. Suitable materials for the solid supportsubstrate of the assay device include gold, glass, and silicon, withpolycarbonate being preferred. Alternative examples of the solid supportsubstrate include disks of any shape compatible for detection usingexisting laser reflectance-based detectors, including audio compact disk(CD) readers, CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory) readers, recordableCD readers, DVD (digital versatile disk) readers, and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an “uncleaved probe”or a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure and the cleaved doublestrand differentially reflect or scatter incident light, in particular,incident laser light, which can be adapted for detection using existinglaser-reflectance based detectors, including CD readers, CD-R readers,CD-ROM readers, or DVD readers. Furthermore, according to the presentinvention, a bioinformatics-related database for diagnosis and assayinterpretation, as well as hospital telephone numbers and web linkinformation for remote diagnosis, may be loaded to a spatial address. Inaddition, the present invention enables personal medical historymanagement by writing the diagnosis result to a CD-R or a hard disk.

The deposition of cleavable signal elements (cleavable capture probes)on the assay device in a spatially-addressable pattern permits asingle-sample assay for multiple analytes, a multi-sample assay for asingle analyte, and a multi-sample assay for multiple analytes.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a nucleic acid assaydevice including cleavable signal elements responsive to a variety ofnucleic acid sequences. In view of this, the present invention providesan assay method and device for assaying a nucleic acid sequence presentin a sample from the spatial address of a signal generated upon contactwith the nucleic acid containing sample.

The present invention simultaneously provides single nucleotidepolymorphism (SNP) detection and expression profile determination,thereby enabling more accurate diagnosis of many kinds of diseases.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a remote diagnosticsystem providing convenience to both patients and doctors, which detectsa plurality of cleavable signal elements attached to a solid supportsubstrate using the detector including an optical device, anelectrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device, digitizes the detected information ascomputer software, and transmits to both doctor and patient through anexisting communication network, such as the Internet.

The assay device and method according to the present invention usescleavable capture probes as cleavable signal elements for detection ofanalytes in fluid test samples. Binding of the analyte preselected fordetection enables cleavage of the cleavable capture probe at itsrestriction probe portion and removal of the cleavable capture probefrom the substrate surface.

When the sample does not contain the target nucleic acid, the cleavablecapture probe remains attached to the substrate surface. Therefore, thepresence or absence of the cleavable signal element (cleavable captureprobe) can be used as digital (binary) information indicating whether aparticular analyte exists or not in the sample. A differential signalbetween the uncleaved signal element and the cleaved signal elementindicates whether the particular analyte exists or not in the sample.

In a preferred embodiment, the signal element according to the presentinvention reflects or scatters incident light and is light addressable.Binding of the analyte preselected for detection enables cleavage andremoval of the signal element. Reflection or scattering of incidentlight, in particular, incident laser light, from the uncleaved signalelement indicates the absence of a particular analyte in the sample, andreflection or scattering from the cleaved signal element indicates thepresence of the analyte in the sample.

The cleavable signal elements of the present invention are particularlyadapted for detection using existing laser reflectance-based detectors,including CD readers, CD-ROM readers, laser disk readers, DVD readers,and the like. The cleavable signal elements of the present inventionthus permits the ready adaptation of existing assay chemistries andexisting assay schemes to detection using-existing laserreflectance-base detectors. This leads to substantial cost savings perassay over standard assays using dedicated detectors.

Applicable assay examples are immunoassays, cell counting, geneticdetection assays based upon hybridization, genetic detection assaysbased upon nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid sequencing itself, andthe like. The present invention thus allows distribution of assaydevices to research laboratories, physician's offices, and individualhomes that must currently be performed at centralized locations.

The spatially addressable capabilities of the laser reflectance-baseddetectors currently used to detect and interpret information encoded onCDs and the like confer particular advantages on assays adapted to usethe cleavable reflective signal elements of the present invention.

Thus, patterned deposition of multiple signal elements on a singlesupport or substrate, coupled with use of a detector capable ofaddressing the spatial location of these individual signal elements,permits the concurrent assay of a single sample for multiple differentanalytes, multiple samples for a single analyte, or multiple samples formultiple analytes. The present invention is thus further directed toassay devices, commonly referred to herein as disk, bio-compact disks,bio-DCs, or bio-DVDs, comprising spatially addressable combinations(diverse geometries) of cleavable signal elements of different analytespecificity. Among such useful combinations are those that increase thepredictive value or specificity of each of the individual assays,combinations that inculpate or exculpate particular diagnoses in adifferential diagnosis, combinations that provide broad generalscreening tools, and the like.

Patterned deposition of multiple signal elements with identicalspecificity further permits the detection, using a single assay device,of large concentration ranges of a single analyte. It is thus anotheraspect of the present invention to provide assay devices comprisingspatially addressable cleavable signal elements of identicalspecificity, the physical location of which is capable of conveyingconcentration information.

The spatially addressable capabilities of the laser reflectance-baseddigital detectors further permits the combination of interpretivesoftware and the assay elements themselves on a single assay device.Another aspect of the present invention, therefore, is an assay deviceupon which software is encoded in an area spatially distinct from thepatterned deposition of cleavable signal elements. The software mayinclude information important for correct tracking by the incidentlaser, assay interpretive algorithms, standard control values,bioinformatics information, self-diagnostics, and the like. The softwaremay include device drivers and software capable of uploading thediagnostic information to remote locations. The software may includeeducational information for patients on clinical assays, and may beadapted for chosen audiences. The software may include a variety of websites and links, for example, a web site enabling a patient tocommunicate with a doctor or hospital based on his/her diagnosis result.

To increase detection sensitivity to reflection variations in thenucleic acid hybridization assay according to the present invention, oneend of the cleavable capture probe (cleavable signal element) iscovalently bound to the substrate, and the other end of the cleavablecapture probe is labeled with, for example, a conducting polymer (e.g.,polyaniline), a fluorescent label, or a metal microsphere, to form alabel-attached signal element (“label-attached cleavable captureprobe”), thereby increasing a reflectivity variation relative to thecleaved signal element.

In another preferred embodiment, the cleavable signal element accordingto the present invention provides information (signal) on the presenceor absence of analytes in the sample to a capacitance and impedancemeasurement device for measuring conductance variations. Binding of theanalyte preselected for detection enables removal of the cleavablesignal element through cleavage. A conductance difference between theuncleaved signal element and the cleaved signal element signals whetherthe analyte exists or not in the sample. After washing, a“label-attached uncleaved probe” structure may be optionally formed onthe substrate by contacting the uncleaved signal element with a label,such as a metal microsphere, to increase detector sensitivity.

To increase detection sensitivity to conductance variations in thenucleic acid hybridization assay according to the present invention, oneend of the cleavable capture probe is bound to the substrate, and theother end of the cleavable capture probe is labeled with, for example, aconducting polymer (e.g., polyaniline), a fluorescent label, or a metalmicrosphere, to form a label-attached signal element (“label-attachedcleavable capture probe”), thereby increasing a conductance (capacitanceand impedance) variation relative to the cleaved signal element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acidhybridization assay method and device using a cleavage enzymespecifically responsive to a complementary double strand of nucleicacids, which are applicable to quantitative and qualitative assaydevices.

In the present invention, cleavage is achieved by a cleavage enzyme,such as a DNAse, specific to double stands. In this case, only a captureprobe acts as a cleavable signal element without a restriction probe.After the capture probe forms a double stand, the DNAse cleaves thedouble strand at a capture probe portion. Therefore, the capture probefunctions as a “cleavable signal element”

Once a double strand that is cleavable by the DNAse is formed throughhybridization of the capture probe to a target nucleic acid, the doublestrand is cleaved by the DNAse and separated from the substrate throughwashing.

In contrast, when the capture probe contacts a sample not including acomplementary sequence to the capture probe, the capture probe does notform the double strand and thus remains as an uncleaved capture probe,attached to the substrate even after the addition of the DNAse andwashing. After washing, a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure maybe optionally formed on the substrate by contacting the uncleaved signalelement with a label, such as a fluorescent label or a metalmicrosphere, to increase detector sensitivity.

After contacting the sample, reaction with the DNAse, and washing,detection of the presence of the uncleaved probe or “label-attacheduncleaved probe” on the substrate by the detector including an opticaldevice, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or acapacitance and impedance measurement device, indicates whether theanalyte is present or not in the sample. Therefore, the “uncleavedprobe” or “label-attached uncleaved probe” acts as an analytepresence/absence signal element. The presence of the cleavable signalelement (uncleaved signal element) on the substrate indicates thatsample does not contain a particular analyte, and the absence of thecleavable signal element (the cleaved signal element remain) indicatesthat sample contains a particular analyte.

Still another object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acidhybridization assay method and device using a cleavage enzymespecifically responsive to a single strand of nucleic acids, which areapplicable to quantitative and qualitative assay devices.

In the present invention, cleavage is achieved by a cleavage enzyme,such as a nuclease, for example, derived from mung bean, specific tosingle strands. In this case, only a capture probe acts as a cleavablesignal element without a restriction probe.

When the capture probe contacts a sample not including a complementarysequence to the capture probe, the capture probe does not form a doublestrand and remains as a single strand which is cleavable by thenuclease. The single strand is cleaved by the nuclease and separatedfrom the substrate through washing.

In contrast, when the capture probe is double-stranded throughhybridization to a target nucleic acid, the capture probe remains as anuncleaved probe, attached to the substrate even after the addition ofthe nuclease and washing.

After washing, a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure may beoptionally formed on the substrate by contacting the uncleaved signalelement with a label, such as a fluorescent label or a metalmicrosphere, to increase detector sensitivity.

After contacting the sample, reaction with the nuclease, and washing,detection of the presence of the uncleaved probe or “label-attacheduncleaved probe” on the substrate by the detector including an opticaldevice, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or acapacitance and impedance measurement device, indicates whether theanalyte is present or not in the sample. Therefore, the “uncleavedprobe” or “label-attached uncleaved probe” acts as an analytepresence/absence signal element. The presence of the cleavable signalelement (uncleaved signal element) on the substrate indicates thatsample contains a particular analyte, and the absence of the cleavablesignal element (the cleaved signal element remain) indicates that sampledoes not contain a particular analyte.

Hereinafter, the structure of the present invention provided to achievethe above objects will be described.

To achieve an object of the present invention, there is provided acleavable signal element comprising: a restriction probe of a singlestrand having a particular sequence cleavable by a restriction enzymespecific to a double strand of a particular sequence; and a captureprobe of a single strand having a complementary sequence to a targetnucleic acid for diagnosis or assay to form a double strand throughhybridization to the target nucleic acid, wherein one end of therestriction probe is attached to a solid support substrate, and theother end of the restriction probe is ligated to the capture probe, thusforming a single-stranded, cleavable capture probe.

In the present invention, when the capture probe contacts a sampleincluding the target nucleic acid of the complementary sequence, thecapture probe is double-stranded through hybridization to the targetnucleic acid, the restriction probe is double-stranded through DNAextension using the target nucleic acid hybridized to the capture probeas a primer with the addition of a DNA polymerization solution, thedouble-stranded restriction probe is cleaved by the restriction enzyme,and the cleaved cleavable capture probe is removed from the solidsupport substrate through washing, thus resulting in a cleaved signalelement. In contrast, when the capture probe contacts a sample notincluding the target nucleic acid of the complementary sequence, thesingle-stranded, cleavable capture probe remains attached to the solidsupport substrate even after additions of the DNA polymerizationsolution and the restriction enzyme and washing, thus resulting in anuncleaved signal element. Preferably, the DNA polymerization solutioncomprises a solution of four dNTPs and a DNA polymerase solution.

Another cleavable signal element according to the present inventioncomprises a capture probe of a single strand having a complementarysequence to a target nucleic acid for diagnosis or assay to form adouble strand through hybridization to the target nucleic acid, whereinone end of the capture probe is attached to a solid support substrate,and the capture probe itself forms a single-stranded, cleavable captureprobe which is cleavable by a cleavage enzyme specifically responsive toa double strand or single strand of nucleic acids.

In this case, when the capture probe contacts a sample including thetarget nucleic acid of the complementary sequence, the capture probe isdouble-stranded through hybridization to the target nucleic acid, thedouble-stranded capture probe is cleaved by the cleavage enzymespecifically responsive to the double strand of nucleic acids, and thecleaved cleavable capture probe is removed from the solid supportsubstrate through washing, thus resulting in a cleaved signal element.In contrast, when the capture probe contacts a sample not including thetarget nucleic acid of the complementary sequence, the single-stranded,cleavable capture probe remains attached to the solid support substrateeven after the addition of the cleavage enzyme and washing, thusresulting in an uncleaved signal element. Preferably, the cleavageenzyme is a DNAse.

When the capture probe contacts a sample not containing the targetnucleic acid of the complementary sequence, the capture probe remains asa single strand without hybridization, the single-stranded capture probeis cleaved by the cleavage enzyme specifically responsive to the singlestrand of nucleic acids, and the cleaved cleavable capture probe isremoved from the solid support substrate through washing, thus resultingin a cleaved signal element. In contrast, when the capture probecontacts a sample including the target nucleic acid of the complementarysequence, the capture probe is double-stranded through hybridization tothe target nucleic acid, and the double-stranded, cleavable captureprobe remains attached to the solid support substrate even after theaddition of the cleavage enzyme and washing, thus resulting in anuncleaved signal element. Preferably, the cleavage enzyme is a nuclease,more preferably, derived from mung bean.

In the cleavable signal elements according to the present invention, thesolid support substrate may be a plastic substrate, a glass substrate, asilicon substrate, or a gold substrate. Preferably, the solid supportsubstrate has a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the surface.Preferably, the capture probe has a length ranging from about 5- toabout 30-mers.

To increase detection sensitivity for an uncleaved signal element, it ispreferable that a label is attached to one end of the cleavable captureprobe to form a label-attached cleavable capture probe structure or toone end or side of an uncleaved probe to form a label-attached uncleavedprobe structure, to increase detection sensitivity for an uncleavedsignal element. In this case, the label may comprise a metalmicrosphere, a conducting polymer, a fluorescent dye, a magneticmicrosphere, and a streptavidin-labeled microsphere. Preferably, themetal microsphere is formed of a metal selected from the groupconsisting of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, chromium, and copper.Preferably, a gold microsphere has a diameter ranging from about 1 nm toabout 10 μm. Preferably, the streptavidin-labeled microsphere isattached to the cleavable capture probe via biotin.

To achieve another object of the present invention, there is provided anucleic acid hybridization assay device comprising: a solid supportsubstrate; a plurality of cleavable signal elements according to any ofthe cleavable signal elements described above attached to the solidsupport substrate; and an internal or external detector which detects auncleaved signal element and a cleaved signal element from the pluralityof cleavable signal elements.

It is preferable that the detector comprises an optical device, anelectrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device. Preferably, the optical device detectsfluorescence of the uncleaved signal element and cleaved signal element.

It is preferable that the detector detects a differential reflectivesignal or a differential conductive signal of the uncleaved signalelement and the cleaved signal element. Preferably, the detector detectsthe differential reflective signal by measuring the reflectance,absorbance, or scattering of light or a laser beam incident on theuncleaved signal element and the cleaved signal element.

Alternatively, the detector may detect the differential conductivesignal by measuring the capacitance and impedance of the uncleavedsignal element and the cleaved signal element. In this case, preferably,the capacitance and impedance measurement device measures the frequencyresponse characteristics of the uncleaved signal element and the cleavedsignal element.

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to the presentinvention, the capacitance and impedance measurement device may compriseinterdigitated array electrodes having at least one digit and arrangedon the solid support substrate. Preferably, the interdigitated arrayelectrodes are substantially formed of gold. Preferably, theinterdigitated array electrodes have an input port to check for thefrequency response characteristics, and the input port is connected toan electronic control device which generates a frequency signal of aconstant bandwidth.

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to the presentinvention, a plurality of cleavable signal elements may be deposited onthe interdigitated array electrodes, preferably only in the spacebetween the interdigitated array electrodes.

In the nucleic acid hybridization device according to the presentinvention, to increase the sensitivity of the detector, it is preferablethat a label-attached uncleaved probe structure is formed on the solidsupport substrate by attaching a label to the uncleaved signal element.

Preferably, the plurality of cleavable signal elements are deposited onthe solid support substrate in a spatially-addressable pattern, morepreferably, to enable a single-sample assay for multiple analytes, amultiple-sample assay for a single analyte, or a multiple sample assayfor multiple analytes.

In the nucleic acid hybridization device according to the presentinvention, it is preferable that the solid support substrate is aplastic substrate formed of a material selected from the groupconsisting of polypropylenes, polyacrylates, polyvinyl alcohols,polyethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, and polycarbonates. Among thosematerials for the solid support substrate, polycarbonates are morepreferred. Preferably, the solid support substrate is formed of acircular disk or a rectangular disk. The circular disk may have adiameter of approximately 120 mm and a thickness of approximately 1.2mm. The nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to the presentinvention may include a plurality of circular disks.

It is preferable that, in the nucleic acid hybridization deviceaccording to the present invention, the circular disk comprises: acentral void to engage a rotational drive means; a sample injection portthrough which a sample is injected; and an annular and/or a spiral trackin which the plurality of cleavable signal elements are deposited in thespatially-addressable pattern. Preferably, an address pattern thatprovides coded address information is formed on the circular disk.

Alternatively, the circular disk in the nucleic acid hybridizationdevice according to the present invention may comprise: a central voidto engage a rotational drive means; a sample injection port throughwhich a sample is injected; and a radial assay sector in which theplurality of cleavable signal elements are deposited in thespatially-addressable pattern. Preferably, the circular disk comprises aplurality of assay sectors. The plurality of assay sectors may beconnected to respective separate sample injection ports or to a commonsample injection port. The plurality of cleavable signal elements aredeposited in each of the plurality of assay sectors in an appropriatepattern for a single-analyte assay or a multiple-analyte assay.Therefore, the nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to thepresent invention is applicable for a single-sample assay for multipleanalytes, a multi-sample assay for a single analyte, and a multi-sampleassay for multiple analytes.

It is preferable that the circular disk includes in a central track adatabase associated with bioinformatics required for diagnosis and assayinterpretation, and telephone numbers, web link information and softwarerequired for remote diagnosis.

In the nucleic acid hybridization device according to the presentinvention, it is preferable that a detector is mounted on the circulardisk. The detector may comprise a non-contact interface through whichinformation read from the cleaved signal element and the uncleavedsignal element is transmitted to an external central controller orstorage device. Preferably, the non-contact interface comprises aninfrared interface and an optical interface. As an example, the infraredinterface may an infrared sensor, and the optical interface may be aphotosensor.

Preferably, the circular disk in the nucleic acid hybridization assaydevice according to the present invention simultaneously comprises atleast one SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) assay sector for SNPdetection and at least one expression assay sector for expressionprofile analysis. In this case, the SNP assay sector and the expressionassay sector may be arranged separate in an angular direction or in aradial direction.

To achieve still another object of the present invention, there isprovided bio-driver apparatus comprising: a rotary disk receiver ontowhich any nucleic acid assay device described above is to be loaded; amotor driver which rotates the disk; a rotary connector which connectsthe motor driver to a central void portion of the disk such that thedisk is rotatable; and an optical device to write data in or to readdata from the disk.

Preferably, the bio-driver apparatus further comprises a centralcontroller which transmits information read from the disk by the opticaldevice to an external storage unit, transmits information to be writtento the optical device, and generates and outputs a variety of controlsignals for the motor driver and the other elements.

In the bio-driver apparatus according to the present invention, it ispreferable that the rotary connector comprises an upper rotor and/or alower rotor, the upper and lower rotors being pushed close to the topand bottom surfaces, respectively, of the central void portion when thedisk begins to rotate.

In the bio-driver apparatus according to the present invention, theoptical device may detect fluorescence, preferably, a differentialreflective signal by measuring the reflectance, absorbance, orscattering of incident light or an incident laser beam.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a bio-driver apparatuscomprising: a rotary disk receiver onto which any nucleic acid assaydevice described above is to be loaded; a motor driver which rotates thedisk; a rotary connector which rotatably connects the motor driver to acentral void portion of the disk; an external power connector whichpowers and/or supplies a control signal to a detector mounted on thedisk; and a non-contact interface through which information read by thedetector is transmitted.

Preferably, the bio-driver apparatus further comprises a centralcontroller which transmits information read from the disk by thedetector to an external storage unit and generates and outputs a varietyof control signals for the motor driver and the other elements.

Preferably, the bio-driver apparatus further comprises an optical deviceto write data in or to read data from the disk. Software including, forexample, bioinformatics information, can be written in or read from thedisk.

Preferably, the detector detects a differential conductive signal bymeasuring capacitance and impedance.

Preferably, the rotary connector comprises an upper rotor and/or a lowerrotor, the upper and lower rotors being pushed close to the top andbottom surfaces, respectively, of the central void portion when the diskbegins to rotate.

Preferably, the power connector comprises a brush that frictionallycontacts the upper and/or lower rotors in connection with an externalpower supply unit, and each of the upper and lower rotors comprises anannular electrode plate frictionally contacting the brush. One of theupper and lower rotors may be used. In this case, two opposite nodes ofthe power supply unit are connected to one brush. When both of the upperand lower rotors are used, brushes contacting the upper and lower rotorsmay respectively connected to the opposite nodes of the power supplyunit.

It is preferable that the annular electrode plate comprises at least oneconductive arm connected thereto, and the central void portion of thedisk comprises a hole to engage the at least one conductive arm and acircuit pattern connected to the hole to power the detector mounted onthe disk and/or supply the control signal to the detector. In this case,the at least one conductive arm may a spring at its one end that isconnected to the annular electrode plate.

In the bio-driver apparatus according to the present invention, it ispreferable that the power connector comprises an electromagnet attachedto the rotary disk receiver in connection with the external power supplyunit, and the electromagnet induces an AC voltage to a wound coil on thedisk so that the detector is powered in a non-contact manner. In thiscase, the disk further preferably comprises a rectifier for rectifyingthe AC voltage induced to the wound coil.

To achieve yet still another object of the present invention, there isprovided a remote diagnostic system comprising: any nucleic acidhybridization assay device according to the present invention describedabove, an existing communication network such as the Internet; and acomputer in which software capable of controlling access to the existingcommunication network and digitizing information read from the nucleicacid hybridization assay device is installed, wherein the digitizedinformation from the nucleic acid assay hybridization assay device istransmitted to a doctor or a hospital, and a patient is provided with aprescription, through the existing communication network.

In the remote diagnostic system according to the present invention, thecomputer may comprise assay interpretive algorithms, bioinformaticsinformation, and self-diagnostics related software. Preferably, thecomputer comprises software capable of uploading diagnostic informationto remote locations and device drivers. In this case, the software mayinclude educational information for patients on clinical assays, avariety of wet sites and links enabling a patient to directlycommunicate with a doctor or hospital based on his/her diagnosis result.

It is preferable that the computer comprises a camera and a microphonefor viewing a patient's face and listening to his/her voice. It ispreferable that the diagnostic data based on the digitized informationare displayed on a computer monitor, the computer automatically ormanually transmits the diagnostic data to a specialist through theexisting communication network, and the patient waits for a prescriptionfrom the specialist.

To achieve another object of the present invention, there is provided anucleic acid hybridization assay method comprising: hybridizing acapture probe to a target nucleic acid present in a liquid sample bycontacting any nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to thepresent invention described above, with the liquid sample; contactingthe cleavable capture probe with a restriction enzyme or cleavage enzymewhich is specifically responsive to a cleavable signal element dependingon whether the capture probe and the target nucleic acid are hybridizedor not; washing the nucleic acid hybridization assay device to removethe cleavable signal element cleaved by the restriction enzyme orcleavage enzyme; and detecting whether the uncleaved signal element orthe cleaved signal element exists on the solid support substrate.

Preferably, the nucleic acid hybridization assay method furthercomprises contacting the cleavage capture probe with a DNApolymerization solution before contact with the restriction enzyme. As aresult, the restriction probe forms a double strand through DNAextension using the target nucleic acid hybridized to the capture probeas a primer. Preferably, the nucleic acid hybridization assay methodfurther comprises contacting the cleavage capture probe with a 3′-5′exonuclease solution before contact with the DNA polymerizationsolution. As a result, a portion of the target nucleic acid that remainsas a single strand without hybridization to the capture probe iscleaved, so that the target nucleic acid can act as the primer.

It is preferable that the nucleic acid hybridization assay methodfurther comprises attaching a label to the cleavable signal elementbefore contacting the capture probe with the liquid sample, or to anuncleaved signal element after contacting the cleavable capture probewith the restriction enzyme or cleavage enzyme. When the labelattachment is applied before contacting the sample, it is preferablethat the label is attached during the synthesis of the capture probe orafter the immobilization of the capture probe to a solid supportsubstrate. Preferably, simple washing is performed between contact withthe restriction enzyme and the label attachment.

It is preferable that the nucleic acid hybridization assay methodfurther comprises at least one wash step. In the nucleic acidhybridization assay method, washing may be performing by rotating thenucleic acid hybridization assay device with or without addition of adetergent solution, or by applying an external electric field.

One embodiment of the nucleic acid hybridization assay method accordingto the present invention comprising: (a) injecting a sample into asample injection port disposed near the center of a disk in a nucleicacid hybridization assay device; (b) rotating the disk and stopping therotation of the disk when the sample reaches an outer edge of the disk;(c) incubating the disk in a stationary state at room temperature forhybridization; (d) adding a buffer solution as a washing solution whilerotating the disk at a high speed, to wash the disk; (e) adding a DNApolymerization solution containing a mixed solution of four dNTPs and aDNA polymerase and incubating the disk in a stationary state for DNAextension; (f) adding a solution of a restriction enzyme specificallyresponsive to a double strand of a particular sequence and incubatingthe disk in a stationary state, to cleave the double strand; (g) washingthe disk by rotating the disk at a high speed with the addition of abuffer solution or by applying an external electric or magnetic field;and (h) drying the disk and reading information from the disk using adetector which is programmed to detect a predetermined assay site onwhich a cleavable signal element is deposited and comprises an opticaldevice, an electrochemical device, or a capacitance and impedancemeasurement device.

It is preferable that the nucleic acid hybridization assay methodfurther comprises adding a 3′-5′ exonuclease solution before step (e) ofDNA extension. As a result, a portion of the target nucleic acid thatremains as a single strand without hybridization to the capture probe iscleaved, so that the target nucleic acid can act as the primer.

Another embodiment of the nucleic acid hybridization assay according tothe present invention comprises: (a) injecting a sample into a sampleinjection port disposed near the center of a disk in a nucleic acidhybridization assay device; (b) rotating the disk and stopping therotation of the disk when the sample reaches an outer edge of the disk;(c) incubating the disk in a stationary state at room temperature forhybridization; (d) adding a buffer solution as a washing solution whilerotating the disk at a high speed, to wash the disk; (e) adding asolution of a cleavage enzyme specifically responsive to a double strandor single strand of nucleic acids and incubating the disk in astationary state, to cleave the double strand or single strand; (f)washing the disk by rotating the disk at a high speed with the additionof a buffer solution or by applying an external electric or magneticfield; and (g) drying the disk and reading information from the diskusing a detector which is programmed to detect a predetermined assaysite on which a cleavable signal element is deposited and comprises anoptical device, an electrochemical device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device.

To increase detection sensitivity, the nucleic acid hybridization assaymethods described above may further comprise attaching a label to thecleavable signal element before sample injection, or to an uncleavedsignal element after strand cleavage. When the label attachment isapplied before contacting the sample, it is preferable that the label isattached during the synthesis of the capture probe or after theimmobilization of the capture probe to a solid support substrate.Preferably, simple washing is performed between contact with therestriction enzyme and the label attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through 2C show alternative embodiments of the attachment of aplurality of cleavable signal elements to a derivatized site of avariety of substrates, in particular:

FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of the attachment of a pluralityof cleavable capture probes (cleavable signal elements) at a derivatizedsite on the plastic (carbonate) substrate of an assay device by covalentbonds, where n of (CH)_(n) is an integer greater than zero;

FIG. 1B is a schematic representation of a nucleic acid hybridizationassay shortly after introduction of a sample containing nucleic acids;

FIG. 1C is a schematic representation of a step after the procedure ofFIG. 1B, in which oligonucleotides present in the sample have bound tocomplementary oligonucleotide of a first capture probe to form a doublestrand, but have not bound to oligonucleotide of a second capture probe,where the rectangular box denotes the complementary double strandformation;

FIG. 1D is a schematic representation of a step after the procedure ofFIG. 1C, in which a single-stranded restriction probe ligated to the endof the first capture probe is double-stranded using a DNA polymerizationsolution, in particular, the restriction probe forms a double strandthrough DNA extension using the complementary target nucleic acidattached to the first capture probe in the step of FIG. 1C as a primer,whereas the second capture probe still remains as a single strand;

FIG. 1E is a schematic representation of a step after the assayprocedure of FIGS. 1C and 1D, in which the restriction probe ligated tothe end of the first capture probe that has formed the double strand iscleaved by contact with a restriction enzyme, and the cleavable firstcapture probe double-stranded through the complementary hybridization isremoved from the substrate surface, whereas the second capture probestill remains as a single strand on the substrate surface;

FIG. 1F is a schematic representation of the removal of the firstcapture probe cleaved in the procedure of FIG. 1E by washing;

FIG. 1G is a schematic representation of the formation of a“label-attached uncleaved probe” structure by contacting the secondcapture probe with a label, for example, an SSB protein, in which thesecond capture probe is tethered to the substrate surface while thefirst capture probe is removed from the substrate surface throughwashing, which provides differential signals as well asspatially-addressable differential reflective signals to a detectorincluding an optical device, an electrochemical device, a massmeasurement device, or a capacitance and impedance measurement device;

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the nucleicacid hybridization assay according to the present invention to increasethe sensitivity of a detector including an optical device, anelectrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device, in which a plurality of cleavable captureprobes (cleavable signal elements) are covalently bound to a derivarizedsite of the plastic substrate (polycarbonate) surface of an assaydevice, and metal microspheres, conducting polymers, or fluorescentlabels are attached to the other free end of the cleavable captureprobes;

FIG. 2B is a schematic representation of the cleavage and removal of thefirst capture probe by washing; and

FIG. 2C is a schematic representation of the labeling of the other freeend of the cleavable capture probes with a streptavidin-labeled magneticmicrobead;

FIGS. 3A through 3D show alternative embodiments of the spatiallyaddressable arrangement of the cleavable signal elements;

FIGS. 4A through 4E show alternative embodiments of the supply of powerto a rotating assay device (disk);

FIG. 4F shows an implementation of detection of analyte-specific signalsgenerated by the assay device using an optical device;

FIGS. 5A through 5I show alternative embodiments of the detection ofanalyte-specific signals generated by the assay device of FIG. 3C usinga capacitance and impedance measurement device having interdigitatedarray electrodes;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show alternative embodiments of implementation of thedifferential reflection between an uncleaved signal element and acleaved signal element;

FIGS. 6C through 6E show alternative embodiments of implementation ofthe differential conductance (impedance or capacitance) between theuncleaved signal element and the cleaved signal element using theinterdigitated array electrodes;

FIG. 7A illustrates the arrangement of four separate assay sectors in anassay device, each containing a different cleavable signal element, toassay in parallel a single sample for four different analytes;

FIG. 7B shows an embodiment of the arrangement of the assay device ofFIG. 7A on a disk;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a remote diagnostic system according tothe present invention, in which the information read by a detector ofthe assay device is digitalized as computer software and mutuallytransmitted to and received by a patient and a doctor through anexisting communication network, for example, the Internet;

FIG. 9 illustrates a washing method by external electric fieldapplication;

FIGS. 10A through 10K illustrate embodiments of attachment of cleavablesignal elements to different types of substrate surfaces for an assaydevice;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show alternative embodiments of an assay device usingthe cleavable signal element according to the present invention fordiagnosing a variety of diseases through both single nucleotidepolymorphism (SNP) detection and gene expression profile determination;

FIG. 12 shows the reaction mechanism of the 3′-5′ exonuclease;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are photographs showing the results of an analysis inExample 2 optically measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM); and

FIG. 14 is a graph of the impedance measured in Example 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, including a nucleic acid hybridization assaymethod and device, using a cleavage technique specifically responsive toa complementary double strand or single strand of nucleic acids oroligonucleotide will be described in greater detail with reference tothe appended drawings.

<Spatially Addressable Cleavable Signal Elements>

The reaction mechanism of a cleavable signal element according to thepresent invention, termed a “bio-bit”, can be easily understood byreference to FIGS. 1A through 1C. Referring to FIG. 1A, a plasticsubstrate 20 has a substrate 21 to which are attached cleavable captureprobes 34 and 35. The substrate 20 can be formed of a porous or solidsubstrate using a variety of materials including plastic, glass, mica,silica, and the like, but plastic is most preferred for reasons ofeconomy, ease of derivatization for attaching the cleavable signalelements to the surface, and compatibility with existing laserreflection-based detectors, such as CD-ROM and DVD readers. Suitableplastics include polypropylenes, polyacrylates, polyvinyl alcohols,polyethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, and polycarbonates, withpolypropylenes and polycarbonates being preferred and polycarbonatesbeing the most preferred.

The cleavable signal elements 34 and 35 include respective captureprobes 34 b and 35 b and respective restriction probes 34 a and 35 a.The surface 21 of the substrate 21 can be derivatized to providecovalent bonding to each of the cleavable signal elements 34 and 35. Toprotect the cleavable capture probes 34 and 35 from direct contact withthe surface 21 of the substrate 21, a monomer layer of non-reactivemolecules, for example, an alkane chain (CH.sub.2)_(n), can be formed onany substrate according to the present invention. As an example, analkane chain ((CH.sub.2)_(n)) 31 attached to one end of the restrictionprobe 34 a is shown.

The alkane chain 21 at one end of each restriction probes 34 a and 35 ais attached to the surface 21 via an amide linkage. The restrictionprobes 34 a and 35 a of the cleavable signal elements 34 and 35 have acleavage site that is susceptible to cleavage by a restriction enzyme indouble-strand formation.

Analyte specificity is conferred upon the cleavable signal element bythe sequence of the capture probes 34 b and 35 b. The capture probes 34b and 35 b includes an oligonucleotide of 5- to 20-mers, preferably 8-to 17-mers, most preferably 8- to 12-mers, but longer oligonucleotides(cDNA) can be used. A large number of cleavable signal elements 34 and35 are present at particular derivatized sites on the surface 21 of thesubstrate 20 of an assay device called a “bio-disk”.

In the present invention, the oligonucleotides of the capture probes 34b and 35 b bind with the complementary single strands of nucleic acidspresent in a test sample. In other words, the complementaryoligonucleotides form double strands, each including a specific bindingpair.

As shown in FIGS. 1A through 2C, the cleavable signal elements(cleavable capture probes) 34 and 35 at different sites on the assaydevice surface have discrete oligonucleotide sequences. In FIG. 1A, thefirst and second cleavable signal elements 65 and 66 haveoligonucleotides 35 b and 34 b, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, when contacted with a test samplecontaining an oligonucleotide 36, the complementary oligonucleotide 35 bbinds with the oligonucleotide 36 present in the test sample to form adouble strand (referred to as also a “capture double strand”) 37, asshown in FIG. 1C. If there no complementarity between the sampleoligonucleotide 36 and the oligonucleotide 34 b, there is no bindingbetween those groups as illustrated in FIG. 1C. The capture probe 35 bforms the double strand 37 with the sample oligonucleotide 36, whereasthe restriction probe 35 a at one end of the capture probe 35 bcurrently remains as a single strand.

To form a double strand of the restriction probe 35 a at one end of thecapture probe 35 b that have formed the double strand 37, as shown inFIG. 1D, a DNA polymerization solution is added. The restriction probe35 a is double-stranded via DNA extension using a target nucleic acidhybridized to the capture probe 35 b as a primer. The restriction doublestrand 38 formed through the DNA extension is shown in FIG. 1B.

In FIG. 1E, cleavage of the restriction double strand 38 by addition ofa restriction enzyme after formation of the capture and restrictiondouble strands 37 and 38 in the steps of FIGS. 1C and 10 is shown.

After the restriction double strand 38 is cleaved at the cleavage site38 c, the first cleavable signal element 65 specifically bound with thetest sample is detached and removed from the surface 21 by washing. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 1F. If it is desired to assay multiple samplesfor a single oligonucleotide, the captures probes at different siteswill generally have the same oligonucleotide sequence. Presence orabsence of a cleavable signal element (after cleavage) on the surface 21may be detected from differential reflectance of incident light, inparticular, incident laser light, or by a capacitance and impedancemeasurement device capable of measuring conductivity variations.

FIG. 1G illustrates an alternative embodiment of labeling after thewashing to increase the sensitivity of a detector. The uncleaved signalelement 66 remaining on the substrate 20 after the step of FIG. 1F isbrought into contact with a label 39, for example, an SSB protein, toform a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure and thus increase adifference in reflectivity or conductivity between the cleaved signalelement 65 and the uncleaved signal element 66, thereby resulting ahigher sensitivity of the detector.

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the nucleicacid hybridization assay according to the present invention to increasethe sensitivity of a detector including an optical device, anelectrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or a capacitance andimpedance measurement device. As shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality ofcleavable capture probes (cleavable signal elements) are covalentlybound to a derivarized site of the plastic substrate (polycarbonate)surface of an assay device, and a label 40, such as a metal microsphere,conductive polymer, or fluorescent label is attached to the other freeend of the cleavable capture probes.

The label 40, such as the metal microsphere, act as a reflective signalgeneration element to permit detection of the presence of the first andsecond cleavable signal elements 65 and 66 coupled to the substrate 20of the assay device. Suitable materials for the reflective signalgeneration element include gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), chromium(Cr), platinum (Pt), and copper (Cu), but Au is preferred due to itsnature to easily and strongly bind to a thiol (SH)-group attached to oneend of the cleavable signal elements 34 and 35. The metal microspheremay be formed of solid metal, metal-coated plastic, or glass bead. Anyreflective materials, instead of metal, can be used. Au-microspheresdirectly bind to a thiol group attached to one end of the cleavablesignal elements 34 and 35.

In FIG. 2A, the first and second cleavable signal elements 65 and 66have the oligonucleotides 35 b and 34 b, respectively. When contactedwith a test sample containing an oligonucleotide, the complementaryoligonucleotide 35 b binds with the oligonucleotide present in the testsample to form a double strand (not shown). If there no complementaritybetween the sample oligonucleotide and the oligonucleotide 34 b, thereis no binding between those groups. The capture probe 35 b forms thedouble strand with the sample oligonucleotide, whereas the restrictionprobe 35 a at one end of the capture probe 35 b currently remains as asingle strand.

To form a double strand with the restriction probe 35 a at one end ofthe capture probe 35 b that have formed the double strand, a DNApolymerization solution is added. The restriction probe 35 a isdouble-stranded via DNA extension using a target nucleic acid of thehybridized capture probe as a primer. After formation of the completedouble strand, the double-stranded restriction probe is cleaved byaddition of a restriction enzyme.

After the double-stranded restriction probe is cleaved at the cleavagesite 38 c, the first cleavable signal element 65 specifically bound withthe test sample and the label 40 are detached and removed from thesurface 21 by washing. This is illustrated in FIG. 2B. Presence orabsence of a cleavable signal element (after cleavage) on the surface 21may be detected from differential reflectance of incident light, inparticular, incident laser light, and by a capacitance and impedancemeasurement device capable of measuring conductivity variations.

FIG. 2C shows an embodiment of the labeling of cleavable capture probeswith the label 39, which may be a metal microsphere, conducting polymer,or fluorescent label, in FIG. 1G. In FIG. 2C, a plurality of cleavablesignal elements are covalently bound to a derivatized site of thesurface 21 of the assay device substrate 20, and the other end of thecleavable signal elements is labeled with the label 39, such as a metalmicrosphere, conducting polymer, or fluorescent label, via avidin 51 andbiotin 50.

FIGS. 3A through 3D show alternative embodiments of the spatiallyaddressable arrangement of the cleavable signal elements. In particular,FIG. 3A shows an address pattern 500 formed on a substrate 70 of acircular disk to provide coded address information, from which thelocation of a cleavable signal element 200 may be optically orfluorescently measured, and the attachment of the cleavable signalelement 200 to annular tracks 351 by deposition. The circular disk has acentral void 61 to engage a rotational drive means. Adjacent annulartracks are connected with each other by spiral-track bridges 352 and 353to permit the sample injected through a sample injection port 354 touniformly and outwardly spread by a centrifugal force generated as thedisk rotates. The address information of the disk can be obtained fromthe address pattern 500, which is a regular pattern impressed at a fixedlocation. Reference numeral 350 denotes a track-to-track interval. FIG.3A shows the deposition of the cleavable signal element in anappropriate pattern to assay in parallel a single sample for multipleanalytes.

FIG. 3B shows an address pattern 401 formed on the substrate 70 of thecircular disk to provide coded address information, from which thelocation of the cleavable signal element 200 may be optically orfluorescently measured, and the attachment of the cleavable signalelement 200 to radial tracks 351 by deposition. The circular disk has acentral void 61 to engage a rotational drive means. FIG. 3B shows thedeposition of the cleavable signal element in an appropriate pattern toassay in parallel multiple samples. A database associated withbioinformatics required for diagnosis and assay interpretation, andtelephone numbers, web link information, and software required forremote diagnosis may be coded and stored in a central track 402. Theembodiment of FIG. 3B shows assay sectors with individual sampleinjection ports 354 and segregated from one another, thereby permittingrotation of the assay device without sample mixing. In FIG. 3B,reference numeral 444 denotes a sample flow channel along which a sampleflows from the sample injection port 354 to a corresponding assay sector800. If multiple sample injection ports 354 are interconnected with eachother, a single sample can be assayed for multiple analytes.

FIG. 3C shows the attachment of the cleavable signal element 200 to aradial track for each assay sector 800 by deposition. To electricallymeasure whether the cleavable signal element 200 is cleaved or not usingthe detector including a capacitance and impedance measurement devicedescribed above, an electronic control unit 63 and a circuit pattern 64connecting each of the assay sectors 800 to the electronic control unit63 are mounted on the substrate 70 of the circular disk. The electroniccontrol unit 63 measures the capacitance and impedance with respect toeach of the assay sectors 800 by checking for their frequency responsecharacteristics, thereby providing information on whether the cleavablesignal element 200 is cleaved or not, or information on the degree ofcleavage. The frequency response characteristics measured by theelectronic control unit 63 is transmitted to an external centralcontroller (not shown) or storage device (not shown) via a non-contactinterface 107, for example, an infrared interface or optical interface,designed on the disk. In FIG. 3C, reference numeral 354 denotes a sampleinjection port.

FIG. 3D shows an address pattern 401 formed on the substrate 70 of thecircular disk to provide coded address information, from which thelocation of the cleavable signal element 200 may be optically orfluorescently measured, and the attachment of the cleavable signalelement 200 at a constant interval over the entire surface of the diskby deposition. The circular disk has a central void 61 to engage arotational drive means. The structure of FIG. 3D is suitable for asingle-analyte assay with multiple samples or for a multiple-analyteassay with a single sample. To end this, samples may be injected throughindividual sample injection ports arranged in an ink-jet arraycorresponding to the location of each capture probes. Alternatively, asample may be injected through a single sample injection port and spreadover the entire substrate by a rotational force.

FIGS. 4A and 4B shows embodiments of a bio-driver, which is a mechanicaldevice for rotating the disk of the assay devices described above. Theelectronic control device 63 transmits the measured frequency responsecharacteristics to an external central controller 101 or storage device111 through a non-contact interface, for example, an infrared interfaceor optical interface, which are located adjacent the central void 61 ofthe disk. Reference numerals 106 and 107 denote reception andtransmission portions, respectively, of the non-contact interface. Thereception and transmission portions 106 and 107 of the non-contactinterface may be implemented with infrared sensors for infraredinterfacing, or photosensors for optical interfacing.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, embodiments of the supply of power to the electroniccontrol unit 63 on the disk while it rotates are also shown. Referencenumeral 100 denotes a driver body for supporting the bio-driver. Aprinted circuit board (PCB) 140 is connected to the driver body 100below the bio-driver, and the central controller 101 for controlling thebio-driver and the storage unit 111 are mounted on the PCB 104. Thecentral controller 101 controls a motor 102 to rotate the disk or stoprotation of the disk, controls movement of an optical device 103, andcontrols upper and lower rotors 104 and 105 such that they rotateadjacent the central void 651 of the disk upon rotation of the disk. Thecentral controller 101 transmits the information read from the disk bythe optical device 103 to the storage unit 111, or information to bewritten to the optical device 103, and provides a number of controlsignals required to read/write information to the other elements.

FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the supply of power to the electroniccontrol unit 63 on the disk by frictional contact between the upper andlower rotors 104 and 105 and respective brushes 108 and 109. In FIG. 4A,reference numeral 110 denotes a power supply unit for supplying a DCpower to the brushes 108 and 109, and reference numerals 227 and 228denotes arms. Alternatively, one of the upper and lower rotors 104 and105 may be used. In this case, two opposite nodes of the power supplyunit 110 are connected to one brush.

FIGS. 4C and 4D show embodiments of the supply of power to theelectronic control unit 63 mounted on the disk by frictional contactbetween the upper rotor 104 and the brush 108, and between the lowerrotor 105 and the brush 109, respectively. In particular, in FIG. 4C, anannular electrode plate 223 mounted on a top plate 222 of the upperrotor 104 to frictionally contact the brush 108 is shown. The twoconductive arms 227 connected to the annular electrode plate 223 act asconnectors to engage holes 302, which are described later, formed nearthe central void 61 of the disk. The annular electrode plate 223 has aradius of r1. Reference numeral 277 denotes a groove which supports theupper rotor 104 against the driver body 100. In FIG. 4C, an annularelectrode plate 225 mounted on a bottom plate 224 of the lower rotor 105to frictionally contact the brush 109 is shown. The two conductive arms229 connected to the annular electrode plate 225 act as connectors toengage holes 301, which are described later, formed near the centralvoid 61 of the disk.

FIG. 4E shows the holes 301 and 302 to engage the conductive arms 227and 229, respectively, formed in the central void 61 of the disk. Thecentral void 61 has a radius of r0. Reference numeral 333 denotes a holein the central void 61. As the disk starts to rotate, the conductivearms 227 and 228 rotate while being engaged with the holes 301 and 302as the upper rotor 104 and the lower rotor 105 are pushed closertogether. A negative (ground) voltage is applied to the conductive arm227 connected to the upper rotor 104, whereas a positive voltage isapplied to the conductive arm 228 connected to the lower rotor 105. Theholes 301 and 302 of the disk, which are engaged with the conductivearms 227 and 228, are connected to circuit patterns 303 and 304 tothereby supply power to the electronic control unit 63. To make theholes 301 and 302 engage easier with the conductive arms 227 and 118when the upper rotor 104 and the lower rotor 105 are pushed closertogether upon rotation of the disk. The conductive arms 227 and 228 havea spring 226 at its one end connected to the respective annularelectrode plates 223 and 225.

FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of the supply of power to the electroniccontrol unit 63 where an AC voltage is induced to a wound coil 152 onthe disk and rectified by magnetic induction between an electromagnet150 attached to the driver body 100 and the wound coil 152 to therebysupply power to the electronic control unit 63 in a non-contact manner.In FIG. 4B, reference numeral 110 denotes a power supply unit forsupplying an AC current to the electromagnet 150.

FIG. 4F shows an implementation of detection of analyte-specific signalsgenerated by the assay device of FIG. 3A, 3B, or 3D using the optical(or fluorescent) device 103. The optical device 103 is provided withdifferentially reflective (fluorescent) signals between the uncleavedsignal element 66 and the cleaved signal element 65 with respect toincident light, in particular, incident laser light. The optical device103 may include a light source, an incident light emitting portion, anda reflective light receiving portion.

FIGS. 5A through 5G show alternative embodiments of the detection ofanalyte-specific signals generated by the assay device of FIG. 3C usinga capacitance and impedance measurement device having interdigitatedarray electrodes. In particular, FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of thecapacitance and impedance measurement device implemented byinterdigitated array electrodes 702 and 703 and a plurality of cleavablesignal elements. The cleavable signal elements are attached to digitsbetween the interdigitated array electrodes 702 and 703. The sensitivityof the detector increases with more digits.

Capacitance and impedance can be determined by measuring the frequencycharacteristics of the sample with application of AC signals having apredetermined bandwidth from the electronic control unit 63 to two inputports 704 and 705 of the interdigitated array electrodes 702 and 703.

FIG. 5B shows a state where the uncleaved signal element 34 remainsbetween the interdigitated array electrodes 702 and 703 on the surfaceof a substrate 701. FIG. 5C shows a state where only a cleaved residue38 b remains after most of the cleavable signal element is has beendetached. The electronic control unit 63 is provided with thedifferential frequency response characteristics between the uncleavedsignal element 34 and the cleaved signal element 38 b.

FIGS. 5D and 5E are for illustrating an embodiment of the capacitanceand impedance measurement device implemented with interdigitated arrayelectrodes and cleavable signal elements having one end labeled with alabel 40 such as a metal microsphere, conducting polymer (e.g.,polyaniline), or a fluorescent label. FIG. 5D shows a state where theuncleaved signal element 34 remains on the surface of the substrate 701after cleavage of the cleavable signal elements and washing. FIG. 5Eshows a state where the cleavable signal element has been detached.

FIGS. 5F and 5G is for illustrating an embodiment of the capacitance andimpedance measurement device implemented with interdigitated arrayelectrodes and a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure formedthrough additional contact between the uncleaved signal element 34 and alabel 39 after cleavage and wash steps. FIG. 5F shows a state where theuncleaved signal element 34 remains on the surface of the substrate 701being labeled with the label 39. FIG. 5G shows a state where thecleavable signal element has been detached.

FIG. 5H shows an embodiment of arrangement of a plurality of assaysectors 800 on the disk, each including a pair of interdigitated arrayelectrodes 702 and 703. Each of the assay sectors 800 may be constructedby combination of multiple pairs of interdigitated array electrodes 702and 703 for multiple-analyte assay.

To enable the detector including the capacitance and impedancemeasurement device constructed with the interdigitated array electrodes702 and 703 to electrically measure whether the cleavable signal elementis cleaved or not, circuit patterns 64 which connect the electroniccontrol unit 63 to each of the detectors arranged in the assay sectors800, are imprinted in the substrate 70 of the circular disk. Theelectronic control unit 63 measures the capacitance and impedance withrespect to each of the assay sectors 800 by checking for the frequencyresponse characteristics from the assay sectors 800 and thereby obtainsinformation on whether the cleavable signal element is cleaved or not orinformation on the degree of cleavage. In FIG. 5H, reference numeral 354denotes a sample injection port, and reference numeral 444 denotes asample inflow channel. Although multiple sample injection ports 354 areillustrated in FIG. 5H, only one simple injection port may be formed toassay a signal sample for multiple analytes.

FIG. 5I shows an embodiment of the capacitance and impedance measurementdevice in which a plurality of assay sectors 800, each including theinterdigitated array electrodes 702 and 703, are arranged on a solidsupport 71 of a common shape. The electronic control unit 63 and circuitpatterns 64 which connect the electronic control unit 63 to each of thedetectors including the capacitance and impedance measurement device andarranged in the assay sectors 800, are mounted in the solid support 71,so that whether the cleavable signal element is cleaved or not can bemeasured using the converter. The electronic control unit 63 measuresthe capacitance and impedance with respect to each of the assay sector800 by checking for the frequency response characteristics from theassay sectors 800 and thereby obtains information on whether thecleavable signal element is cleaved or not or information on the degreeof cleavage. In FIG. 51, reference numeral 354 denotes a sampleinjection port, reference numeral 444 denotes a sample inflow channel,reference numeral 356 denotes a sample exhaust port, and referencenumeral 445 denotes a sample exhaust channel.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show alternative embodiments of implementation of thedifferential reflection between a cleaved signal element and anuncleaved signal element. Referring to FIG. 6A, a gold layer 22 and aself-assembled monolayer (SAM) 32 are sequentially formed on asubstrate, and a cleavable signal element 34 is immobilized on the SAM32. Reference numeral 65 denotes a cleaved signal element having acleaved residue 38 b left after the cleavable signal element has beendetached. Reference numeral 66 denotes an uncleaved signal element. FIG.6B illustrates the application of a label 39, such as a metalmicrosphere, conducting polymer, or fluorescent label, to increase thesensitivity of the detector. As shown in FIG. 6B, the gold layer 22 andthe SAM 32 are sequentially formed on the substrate, and a cleavablesignal element 34 is immobilized on the SAM 32. Reference numeral 65denotes a cleaved signal element having a cleaved residue 38 b leftafter the cleavable signal element has been detached. Reference numeral66 denotes an uncleaved signal element.

FIGS. 6C through 6E show alternative embodiments of implementation ofthe differential conductance (impedance or capacitance) between thecleaved signal element and the uncleaved signal element usinginterdigitated array electrodes. Referring to FIG. 6C, the gold layer 22and the SAM 32 for immobilization of the cleavable signal element 34 areformed on a substrate 20. The gold layer 22 constitutes theinterdigitated array electrodes. A protective layer 33 is formed toprotect the gold layer 22 from the cleavable signal element 34 adheringto the gold layer 22. As shown in FIG. 6C, which is a partialcross-sectional view of the assay sector 800 of FIG. 5A, only a cleavedresidue 38 b of a cleaved signal element 65 remains after the cleavablesignal element has been detached. Reference numeral 66 denotes anuncleaved signal element.

FIG. 6D shows an embodiment of labeling one free end of the cleavablecapture probe, which constitutes a cleavable signal element whose theother end is attached to the substrate, with a label 40 such as a metalmicrosphere, conducting polymer, or fluorescent label to increase thesensitivity of the detector. FIG. 6E shows an embodiment of formation ofa “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure after washing by additionallabeling of the uncleaved signal element 66 with a label 39, such as ametal microsphere, conducting polymer, or fluorescent label. As shown inFIGS. 6D and 6E, which are partial cross-sectional views of the assaysector 800 of FIG. 5A, only a cleaved residue 38 b of a cleaved signalelement 65 remains after the cleavable signal element has been detached.Reference numeral 66 denotes an uncleaved signal element labeled withthe label 40 or 39.

FIG. 7A illustrates the arrangement of four separate assay sectors in anassay device, each containing a different cleavable signal element 200,to assay in parallel a single sample for four kinds of analytes. Thesingle sample injected through the sample injection port 354 is suppliedto each of the assay sectors through the sample inflow channel 444. Oneach of the assay sectors 800, the cleavable signal element 200 having acapture probe complementary to a different analyte is deposited.Preferably, the cleavable signal element 200 is fluorescently detected.In this case, a fluorescent label is applied to the end of the cleavablesignal element 200, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. The assay device of FIG.7A includes a sample exhaust port 356 and a sample exhaust channel 445.Alternatively, different kinds of cleavable signal elements 200 that arecomplementary to a plurality of discrete analytes may be depositedwithin one assay sector to enable multi-analyte assay in a single assaysector.

FIG. 7B shows an embodiment of the assay device according to the presentinvention, in which a plurality of assay devices of FIG. 7A are radiallyarranged on a disk.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a remote diagnostic system according tothe present invention, in which the information read from the assaydevice is digitalized as computer software and mutually transmitted toand received by a patient 151 and a doctor 125 through an existingcommunication network 133. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 120 denotes adetector including an optical device, an electrochemical device, a massmeasurement device, or a capacitance and impedance measurement device,as described above, to detect the presence or absence of the cleavablesignal element on the solid support (substrate). The detector 120 may bea bio-driver including a central controller and an assay device in theform of disk, bio-CD, or bio-DVD where analyte-specific cleavable signalelements are spatially and addressibly arranged in a variety of ways.Reference numeral 127 denotes a software-installed hard disk driver(HDD) or memory. The software may include assay interpretive algorithms,bioinformatics information, and self-diagnostics related information.The software may further include software capable of uploading thediagnostic information to remote locations and device drivers. Thesoftware may include educational information for patients on clinicalassays, and may be modified for chosen audiences. The software mayinclude a variety of wet sites and links, for example, enabling apatient to communicate with a doctor or hospital based on his/herdiagnosis result. Reference numerals 121 and 123 denote a camera and amicrophone for viewing a patient's face and listening to his/her voice,respectively. Reference numeral 15 i denotes a patient. A hospital 124,a doctor 125, and a nurse 126, which provide remote diagnosis services,are also shown in FIG. 8.

<Method of Applying Sample>

A cleavable signal element according to the present invention issuitable for detecting, in particular, a nucleic acid amplified to alimited size through an amplification scheme using a variety ofpolymerase chain reactions (PCRs), ligase chain reactions (LCRs), and T7and SP6RNA polymerases.

In an assay method according to the present invention, a sample to betested is first introduced. After a dilute fluid sample is applied nearthe center of the substrate (solid support) of a circular, disk-typeassay device, the assay device is rotated. The fluid sample evenlydiffuses over and uniformly covers the surface of the substrate by acentrifugal fore generated by the rotation of the assay device.

In this method of applying the sample, 100 μL of the test sample isdiluted to about 1 mL. This dilute sample is dropwise added near thecenter of the disk. The assay sites and the surface of the disk arehydrophilic, and the fluid sample forms a thin fluid film on therotating disk. The thickness of the fluid film can be adjusted by thefrequency of the dropwise addition and the frequency of disk rotation.Preferably, the thickness of the fluid film is less than 10 μm to permitall molecules in the fluid sample to react with the cleavable signalelement. About 10 μL of the fluid sample is needed to fully cover thesurface of the disk. This sample apply method is suitable for, inparticular, the assay devices of FIGS. 3A through 3D and FIG. 5F.

Another sample apply method is available with the cleavable signalelement and assay device according to the present invention, inparticular, the assay devices of FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 5H, each of whichincludes 8 separate assay sectors 800 and is suitable to apply a singlesample to each assay sector.

In other aspects of the present invention, separate samples may beapplied to discrete sites of the disk-type assay device. In view ofthis, the assay device according to present invention can assayapproximately one thousand different samples. In addition, to increasethe sensitivity of the detector, approximately one million goldmicrospheres, conducting polymers, or fluorescent labels can be appliedto label assay sites.

As an embodiment, the assay device of FIG. 3D, which has at the assaysites on the disk a plurality of cleavable signal elements withidentical capture probes conferring identical analyte specificity, maybe designed to concurrently assay 1024 patient samples. In other words,the assay device of FIG. 3D may include 1024 cleavable signal elementson the disk. In such an embodiment, each of the capture probes on thedisk may be identical, so as to assay for the same analyte. Captureprobes at particular sites on the disk have the same oligonucleotidesequence as those at other sites on the disk. This application isparticularly useful in mass analysis conducted in clinical laboratorieswhere a large number of patient samples are analyzed at the same timefor the presence or absence of a single analyte.

Patient samples may be applied to particular assay sites on the disk bya known method, such as ink jet printing, micropippet arrays withdisposable tips, or a combination thereof.

Alternatively, the assay device of FIG. 3D may be applied to assay asingle sample for multiple analytes by using a plurality of diverse,cleavable signal elements specific to different analytes for each assaydevice.

<Hybridization>

In a nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the presentinvention, after the sample injection, rotation of the disk is halted,and the disk is incubated in a stationary state at room temperature forhybridization reaction between the capture probe and the complementarytarget nucleic acid in the sample.

<First Wash Step>

The nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the present inventioninvolves first and second wash steps. After the even application of thesample over the disk surface and an appropriate incubation period forthe hybridization, a first wash step is necessary. For example, innucleic acid hybridization assays, at a lower salt concentration of thewash solution, washing is smooth, thus reducing mismatch as betweenanalyte (target nucleic acid) and capture probes. In contrast, at ahigher salt concentration, washing is not smooth, thereby permittingmismatch to occur. Adjusting the stringency of wash in nucleic acidhybridization assays, in terms of salt concentration, is well within theskill in the art.

In one aspect according to the present invention, the surface of thecircular, disk-type assay device may be washed by adding a wash solutionnear the center of the rotating disk. The sample solution is removed asit pushes out from the periphery of the disk and is collected. Becauseof the rotation of the disk, the wash step may be eliminated if thefluid sample is adequately removed from the disk by centrifugal force.This centrifugal force is strong enough to mechanically denaturemismatching oligonucleotides.

Alternatively, mismatching oligonucleotides may be removed withapplication of an external electric field. Due to the nature of itsphosphate backbone which is negatively charged, the sampleoligonucleotides hybridized to the cleavable signal element with a weakbinding force can be denatured by applying an external negative electricfield.

As is shown in FIG. 9, the external electric field is applied with anelectrode plate 133, disposed directly above the assay device, and anexternal voltage source 221. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of washing awaymismatching oligonucleotides 333 from the assay device of FIG. 6D withapplication of an external electric field.

<DNA Extension Step>

When a restriction enzyme specifically responsive to a particularsequence of a double stand is used according to the present invention,DNA extension is needed after the hybridization and first wash step. InDNA extension, a single-stranded restriction probe is double-strandedusing the target nucleic acid previously hybridized to the capture probeas a primer with addition of a DNA polymerization solution containingfour dNTPs and a polymerase.

Prior to addition of the DNA polymerization solution, it is preferableto contact the restriction probe with a 3′-5′ exonuclease solution. Asis shown in FIG. 12, a step of hydrolytic cleaving a single-strandedtarget nucleic acid portion 79, which is unbound to the capture probe,by addition of the 3′-5′ exonuclease solution, may be further includedbefore the DNA extension. The result is readily applied to DNA extensionusing the target nucleic acid previously hybridized to the capture probeas a primer.

<Cleavage Step>

After the first wash step (or DNA extension), a solution containing arestriction enzyme or cleavage enzyme (DNAse or nuclease) is added anddistributed over the surface of the disk. The disk is incubated in astationary state at room temperature, and the complementary doublestrand or single strand resulting from the hybridization is specificallycleaved. This enzymatic cleavage is maintained for a few seconds.

<Second Wash Step>

After the enzymatic cleavage step, a second wash step is needed toremove the cleaved signal elements. In this second wash step,differential wash stringencies are provided to permit variation in thespecificity and sensitivity of the nucleic acid hybridization assay.

The cleaved signal elements may be removed by rotating the assay device,with or without addition of wash solution, or by applying an externalelectric field. In this aspect, four parameters may be varied to providedifferential wash stringency: label particle size (such as metalmicrospheres, conducting polymers, or fluorescent labels), rotationalspeed, the valency of capture probe attachment, and the intensity ofexternal electric field.

Gold microspheres suitable for use in the cleavable signal element andassay device of the present invention are readily available in varyingdiameters from Aldrich Chemical Company, British BioCell International,Nanoprobes, Inc., ranging from 1 nm to and including 0.5-5 micrometersin diameter. Gold microspheres of lesser or greater diameter may beformed as needed in the present invention. At a given rotational speed,the largest gold microspheres experience larger centrifugal and dragforces and are removed before smaller microspheres with equal bonding.This provides a basis for differential stringency of wash, and also ofquantitative analysis.

The centrifugal force affecting the gold microspheres may also beadjusted by rotation frequency so that the loose and weakly bound goldmicrospheres are removed. Only the capture probes which have bound to acomplementary molecule from the sample will continue to bind the goldmicrospheres to the substrate.

Furthermore, while the above embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with a single metal microsphere attached to the end of asingle cleavable signal element, it should be appreciated that when goldmicrospheres are used in a preferred embodiment of the invention,thousands of cleavable signal elements may bind to one gold microsphere,depending upon its diameter. Thus, the stringency of the assay wash maybe adjusted, at any given rotational speed, by varying the diameter ofthe gold microsphere, and by varying additionally the relative densityof cleavable signal elements to gold microspheres. Thus, if virtuallyall cleavable signal elements under a certain gold sphere are connectedby complementary molecules, the binding is very strong. If the cleavablesignal elements are fixated only partially under a certain goldmicrosphere, the microsphere may remain or be removed depending on theradius of the microsphere and the frequency of rotation. Alternatively,ferromagnetic microspheres, gold-coated iron beads, or an iron alloybeads may be used instead of the gold microspheres. In this case, thoseprobes detached through cleavage may be removed with application of amagnetic field.

<Detection Step>

After removal of cleaved signal elements through the second wash step,the disk may be read directly. Alternatively, the disk may be covered byan optically transparent plastic coating to prevent the further removalof the gold microspheres through spin coating with a polymerizablelacquer that is polymerized with UV-light. Spin coating of compact disksis well established in the art. The assay device disk is expected tohave a shelf-life of over ten years.

Subsequently, the disk can be scanned by a laser reader which willdetect, through reflection, the presence of a microsphere or otherreflective elements at the various spatially predetermined locations.Based on the distance of the microsphere from the axis of rotation ofthe disk and the angular distance from an address line forming a radialline on the disk, the location of a particular metal microsphere can bespecifically determined. Based on that specific location and thepredetermined locations of specific binding pairs as compared to amaster distribution map, the identity of the bound material can beidentified. Thus, in the foregoing manner it is possible in one fluidsample to analyze for thousands, or even greater numbers, of analytessimultaneously.

<Additional Labeling Step>

In the case of forming the “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure,an additional step of labeling the cleavable signal element or uncleavedprobe is included before sample injection or after cleavage. Inparticular, the additional labeling before sample injection follows thesynthesis of the capture probe or capture probe attachment to thesubstrate (solid support). The additional labeling after cleavagerequires a preceding sample washing step.

The nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the present inventioninvolves the sample injection, hybridization, first wash and cleavage,additional labeling reaction, and second wash steps described above.

<Synthesis of Cleavable Signal Element and Attachment to GlassSubstrate>

FIGS. 10A through 10C show alternative embodiments of the synthesis ofcleavable signal elements and attachment to glass substrates.

1. Cleaning of Glass Substrate

A detergent (Alconox) is first dissolved in distilled water, and glasssubstrates are sonicated in the detergent solution for approximately 50minutes. The glass substrates are rinsed with distilled water to removeany sticking detergent. The rinsed glass substrates are boiled orsonicated in a piranha solution (a 3:7 mixture of H₂O₂ and H₂S₄) for 30minutes. For glass substrates coated with, for example, gold, the glasssubstrates are socked in the piranha solution for washing, withoutsonication. Next, the glass substrates are removed from the piranhasolution and rinsed copiously with distilled water to completely removethe piranha solution from the glass substrate surface (Steps 10 a-1, 10b-1, and 10 c-1 of FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C).

2. Reaction for Oligonucleotide Attachment

(a) Attachment of Oligonucleotide Using Amine-Oligonucleotide

FIG. 10A shows the procedure of attachment of oligonucleotide 34 on acleaned glass substrate 24 using amino-oligonucleotide. The cleanedglass substrate 24 is reacted with a silanazation material, for example,(10-carbomethoxydecyl)dimethylchlorosilane (ClSi(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH),with a carboxyl-convertible functional group.

For the reaction, the cleaned glass substrate 24 is dried in a vacuumand reacted in a solution of the silanization material of about 0.5 mLin 20 mL of toluene for about 24 hours in an argon gas atmosphere. Next,the glass substrate is washed with toluene and then acetone, and driedin a vacuum or by flowing gas. The glass substrate is socked and reactedin a 1 M HCl solution at 50° C. for 5 hours, thereby resulting in acarboxyl-substituted glass substrate (Step 10 a-2). The glass substratewith the carboxyl group is washed with acetone and dried. The glasssubstrate is reacted in an aqueous solution of 0.2M N-hydroxysuccinimide(NHS), 0.2M 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodi-imide hydrochloride(EDCl), and amine-oligonucleotide (H₂N-oligo) of 0.01-0.1 mg/mL for 20hours, followed by surface washing. The result is anoligonucletide-attached glass substrate (Step 10 a-3).

(b) Attachment of Oligonucleotide Using Amine-Oligo-Thiol Group

FIG. 10B shows the procedure of attachment of oligonucleotide on thecleaned glass substrate 24 using an amine-oligo-thiol group. The cleanedglass substrate 24 is reacted with a silanazation material, for example,(10-carbomethoxydecyl)dimethylchlorosilane (ClSi(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH),with a carboxyl-convertible functional group.

For the reaction, the cleaned glass substrate 24 is dried in a vacuumand reacted in a solution of the silanization material of about 0.5 mLin 20 mL of toluene for about 24 hours in an argon gas atmosphere. Next,the glass substrate is washed with toluene and then acetone, and driedin a vacuum or by flowing gas. The glass substrate is socked and reactedin a 1M HCl solution at 50° C. for 5 hours, thereby resulting in acarboxyl-substituted glass substrate (Step 10 b-2). The glass substratewith the carboxyl group is washed with acetone and dried. The glasssubstrate is reacted in an aqueous solution of 0.2M NHS, 0.2M EDCl, andan amine-oligonucleotid-thiol group (H₂N-oligo-SH) of 0.01-0.1 mg/mL for20 hours, followed by surface washing. The result is anoligonucletide-attached glass substrate (Step 10 b-3).

(c) Attachment of Oligonucleotide Using Biotin-Avidin Reaction

FIG. 10C shows the procedure of attachment of oligonucleotide on thecleaned glass substrate 24 using biotin-avidin reaction. The cleanedglass substrate 24 is reacted with a silanazation material, for example,(10-carbomethoxydecyl)dimethylchlorosilane (ClSi(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH),with a carboxyl-convertible functional group.

For the reaction, the cleaned glass substrate 24 is dried in a vacuumand reacted in a solution of the silanization material of about 0.5 mLin 20 mL of toluene for about 24 hours in an argon gas atmosphere. Next,the glass substrate is washed with toluene and then acetone, and driedin a vacuum or by flowing gas. The glass substrate is socked and reactedin a 1M HCl solution at 50° C. for 5 hours, thereby resulting in acarboxyl-substituted glass substrate (Step 10 c-2). The glass substratewith the carboxyl group is washed with acetone and dried. The glasssubstrate is reacted in an aqueous solution of 0.2M NHS, 0.2M EDCl, andavidin (denoted by reference numeral 51) of 11 mg/mL for 20 hours,followed by surface washing with buffer (10 mN Tris, pH 7.2).

Next, the glass substrate surface is reacted with a solution of biotin(denoted by reference numeral 50)-oligonucleotide in 1×TBE for 8 hoursand washed with buffer (Step 10 c-4). Alternatively, the glass substrateis reacted with a solution of biotin-oligo-SH in 1×TBE and washed withbuffer (Step 10 c-5).

<Synthesis of Cleavable Signal. Element and Attachment to GoldSubstrate>

FIGS. 10D through 10H show alternative embodiments of the synthesis ofcleavable signal elements and attachment to gold substrates.

1. Cleaning of Gold Substrate

Gold substrates are soaked in a saturated KOH solution for 1 hour andrinsed copiously with distilled water. The gold substrates are thensoaked in sulfuric acid for approximately 2 hours, followed by rinsingwith distilled water (Steps 10 d-1, 10 e-1, 10 g-1, and 10 h.sup.-1).

2. Reaction for Oligonucleotide Attachment

(a) Attachment of Oligonucleotide Using Thiol Group

FIG. 10D shows the procedure of attachment of the oligonucleotide 34 ona cleaned gold substrate 22 using a thiol group. The entire surface ofthe gold substrate 22 is spray-coated with a buffer solution into whichHS—(CH₂)_(n)-oligo has been dissolved, tightly sealed to prevent coatingevaporation, and reacted for approximately 5 hours. Following washingwith buffer (Step 10 d-2), a buffer solution containing HS—(CH₂)_(n)—OHis applied to the gold substrate surface to space out theoligonucleotides immobilized on the surface (Step 10 d-3).

FIG. 10E shows another embodiment of the attachment of theoligonucleotide 34 on the cleaned gold substrate 22 using the thiolgroup. The entire surface of the gold substrate 22 is spray-coated witha buffer solution containing HS—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH, for example,HS—(CH₂)₆—COOH in 0.2M aqueous mercaptohexanoic acid solution, tightlysealed to prevent coating evaporation, and reacted for approximately 10hours. Following washing with distilled water and drying (Step 10 e-2),the resulting gold substrate is reacted in an aqueous solution of 0.2MNHS, 0.2M EDCl, and amine-oligonucleotide-thiol (H₂N-oligo-SH) of0.01-0.1 mg/mL for 10 hours (Step 10 e-3).

(b) Attachment of Oligonucleotide Using Biotin-Avidin Reaction

FIG. 10F shows the procedure of attachment of the oligonucleotide 34 onthe cleaned gold substrate 22 using biotin-avidin reaction. The entiresurface of the gold substrate 22 is coated with a solution of biotindisulfide N-hydroxysuccinimide (prepared by dissolving 1 g of biotindisulfide N-hydroxysuccinimide in 200 μL of dimethylformamide (DMF) anddiluting the solution with addition of 800 μL of distilled water),tightly sealed to prevent coating evaporation, and reacted forapproximately 5 hours. Following washing with distilled water (Step 10f-2), the resulting gold substrate is spray-coated with an avidinsolution, tightly sealed, and reacted for 10 hours (Step 10 f-3,reference numeral 51 denotes an avidin molecule. Next, the glasssubstrate surface is reacted with a solution of biotin (denoted byreference numeral 50)-oligonucleotide in 1×TBE for approximately 8 hoursand washed with buffer (Step 10 f-4).

FIG. 10G shows another embodiment of the attachment of theoligonucleotide 34 on the cleaned gold substrate 22 using thebiotin-avidin reaction. The surface of the gold substrate 22 is coatedwith a solution of avidin (denoted by reference numeral 51) in 1×TBE,tightly sealed to prevent coating evaporation, and reacted forapproximately 5 hours (Step 10 g-2). Next, the glass substrate surfaceis reacted with a solution of biotin (denoted by reference numeral50)-oligonucleotide in 1×TBE for approximately 8 hours and washed withbuffer (Step 10 g-3).

(c) Attachment of Oligonucleotide-Biotin Using Thiol Group

FIG. 10H shows the procedure of attachment of oligonucleotide-biotin onthe cleaned gold substrate 22 using the thiol group. The entire surfaceof the cleaned gold substrate 22 is spray-coated with a buffer solutioninto which HS—(CH₂).sub.n-oligo-biotin has been dissolved, tightlysealed to prevent coating evaporation, and reacted for approximately 5hours. Following washing with buffer (Step 10 h-2), a buffer solutioncontaining HS—(CH₂)_(n)—OH is applied to the gold substrate surface tospace out the oligonucleotides immobilized on the surface (Step 10 h-3).

<Synthesis of Cleavable Signal Element and Attachment to PlasticSubstrate>

FIGS. 10I through 10K shows alternative embodiments of the synthesis ofcleavable signal elements and attachment to plastic substrates.

1. Cleaning of Plastic Substrate

Gold substrates are soaked and sonicated in a Alconox solution for about30 minutes and rinsed copiously with distilled water.

2. Reaction for Oligonucleotide Attachment

FIG. 10I shows an embodiment of the attachment of the oligonucleotides34 on a cleaned plastic substrate 20. The surface of the plasticsubstrate 20 is aminated by ammonia plasma (Step 10 i-1) and completelyspray-coated with a buffer solution in which —COOH—R—COOH, where R isany amine-reactive formula, for example, 3,3-dimethylglutaric acid(—HOOC—CH₂—C(CH₃)₂—CH₂—COOH), has been dissolved (Step 10 i-2).Preferably, R is alkane or other functional groups. The plasticsubstrate 20 is tightly sealed and reacted for approximately 10 hours.Following washing with distilled water and drying, the plastic substrateis reacted in an aqueous solution of 0.2M NHS, 0.2M EDCl, andamine-oligonucleotide (H₂N-oligo) of 0.01-0.1 mg/mL for 10 hours (Step10 i-3).

FIG. 10J shows another embodiment of the attachment of theoligonucleotides on the cleaned plastic substrate 20. The surface of theplastic substrate 20 is aminated by ammonia plasma (Step 10 j-1) andcompletely spray-coated with a buffer solution in which —COOH—R—COOH hasbeen dissolved (Step 10 j-2). The plastic substrate 20 is tightly sealedand reacted for approximately 10 hours. Following washing with distilledwater and drying, the plastic substrate is reacted in an aqueoussolution of 0.2M NHS, 0.2M EDCl, and amine-oligonucleotide-thiol(H₂N-oligo-SH) of 0.01-0.1 mg/mL for 10 hours (Step 10 j-3).

FIG. 10K shows still another embodiment of the attachment of theoligonucleotides to the cleaned plastic substrate 20. The surface of theplastic substrate 20 is aminated by ammonia plasma (Step 10 k-1) andcompletely spray-coated with a solution of succinimidyl 4-maleimidobutyrate (SMB), a heterobifunctional crosslinker, in a 1:10 mixture ofDMF and sodium bicarbonate buffer (50 mM, pH 8.5) (Step 10 k-2:monolayer formation). The resulting plastic substrate is tightly sealedand reacted for approximately 3 hours. Following washing with distilledwater and drying, the plastic substrate is reacted withHS-oligonucleotide-biotin in HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 6.6, 5.0 mM EDTA)for 3 hours (Step 10 k-3).

<Method to Increase Detector Sensitivity>

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the presentinvention, to increase the sensitivity of the detector including anoptical device, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, ora capacitance and impedance measurement device, after Steps 10 b-3, 10c-5, 10 e-3, and 10 j-e, or after the first wash step and cleavage, ametal microsphere suspension is spread over the substrate and reacted atroom temperature for about 0.5 hours to form a metalmicrosphere-attached cleavable signal element or a “label-attacheduncleaved probe” structure.

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the presentinvention, to increase the sensitivity of the detector including anoptical device, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, ora capacitance and impedance measurement device, alternatively, afterSteps 10 a-3, 10 c-4, 10 d-3, 10 f-4, 10 g-4, and 10 i-3, or after thefirst wash step and cleavage, a conducting polymer solution is spreadover the substrate and reacted at room temperature for about 5 hours toform a conducting polymer-attached cleavable signal element or a“label-attached uncleaved probe” structure.

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay method according to the presentinvention, to increase the sensitivity of the detector including anoptical device, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, ora capacitance and impedance measurement device, alternatively, afterSteps 10 a-3, 10 c-4, 10 d-3, 10 f-4, 10 g-4, and 10 i-3, or after thefirst wash step and cleavage, an aqueous solution of fluoreceineisothiocyanate of 0.1 mg/mL, a fluorescer, is spread over the substrateand left in a dark room for about 5 hours to form a fluorescent-labeledcleavable signal element or a “label-attached uncleaved probe”structure.

For label attachment, the amine group of the oligonucleotides shouldextend towards the reaction solution.

In the nucleic acid hybridization assay method according to the presentinvention, to increase the sensitivity of the detector including anoptical device, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, ora capacitance and impedance measurement device, alternatively, afterSteps 10 h 4 and 10 k-3 or after the first wash step and cleavage, asuspension of streptavidin labeled microbeads 40 or streptavidin-labeledmagnetic microbeads is spread over the substrate and reacted at roomtemperature for about 5 hours to form a streptavidin-labeledmicrobead-attached (or magnetic microbead attached) cleavable signalelement” or a “label-attached uncleaved probe” structure.

<Gold Particles as Signal Responsive Moieties>

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, particles thatreflect or scatter light are used as signal responsive moieties. A lightreflecting and/or scattering particle is a molecule or a material thatcauses incident light to be reflected or scattered without absorbing thelight energy. Such light reflecting and/or scattering particles include,for example, metal particles, colloidal metal such as colloidal gold,colloidal non-metal labels such as colloidal selenium, dyed plasticparticles made of latex, polystyrene, polymethylacrylate, polycarbonateor similar materials.

The size of such particles ranges from 1 nm to 10 μm, preferably from500 nm to 5 μm, and most preferably from 1 to 3.mu.m. The larger theparticle, the greater the light scattering effect. Metal microspheres 1nm to 10 μm in diameter, preferably 0.5-5 μm, most preferably 1-3 μm indiameter, are presently preferred in the light reflecting/lightscattering embodiment of the present invention. Metal microspheresprovide a convenient signal responsive moiety for detection of thepresence of an uncleaved signal element bound to the disk. Typicalmaterials are gold, silver, nickel, chromium, platinum, copper, and thelike, or alloys thereof, with gold being most preferred. The metalmicrospheres may be solid metal or may be formed of plastic, or glassbeads or the like, upon which a coating of metal has been deposited.Metal microspheres may also be alloys.

Gold spheres suitable for use in the cleavable reflective signal elementand assay device of the present invention are readily available invarying diameters from Aldrich Chemical Company, British BioCellInternational, Nanoprobes, Inc., and others, ranging from 1 nm to andincluding 0.5 μm (500 nm)-5 μm in diameter. It is within the skill inthe art to create gold microspheres of lesser or greater diameter asneeded in the present invention. Much smaller spheres can be usedadvantageously when reading is performed with optical microscopy,UV-light, electron beam or scanning probe microscopy. Smaller spheresare preferred because more cleavable signal elements can bediscriminated in a given area of a substrate.

Although spherical particles are preferred, non-spherical particles arealso useful for some embodiments. In biological applications, the signalresponsive moiety—particularly gold or latex microspheres—willpreferably be coated with detergents or derivatized so that they have asurface charge. This is done to prevent the attachment of theseparticles nonspecifically with surfaces or with each other.

The preferred gold microspheres bind directly to the thiol group of theend of the cleavable signal element, yielding a very strong bond.

Furthermore, while the above embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with a single metal microsphere attached to the end of asingle cleavable signal element, it should be appreciated that when goldis used in a preferred embodiment of the invention, thousands ofcleavable signal elements may bind one gold microsphere, depending uponits diameter. It is estimated that one sphere of 1-3 μm may be bound byapproximately 1,000-10,000 cleavable signal elements.

As a result, the stringency of the assay wash may be adjusted to givehigher assay reliability, at any given rotational speed, by varying notonly the diameter of the gold sphere, but also the relative density ofcleavable signal elements to gold microspheres.

Accordingly, if virtually all captures probes under a certain goldmicrosphere are connected by complementary molecules, the binding isvery strong. If the capture probes are fixated only partially under acertain gold microsphere, the microsphere may remain or be removeddepending on the radius of the microsphere and the frequency of therotation.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, since themetal microsphere increases conductivity, it can improve the sensitivityof a detector constructed of the capacitance and impedance measurementdevice.

In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,conducting polymers or fluorescent labels may be used instead of themetal microsphere. The conducting polymer or fluorescent label acts as alight reflecting (light diverging) and scattering particle or aconductivity-increasing particle, so it can improve detectionsensitivity when used with a photodetector (fluorescent detector) or adetector constructed of the capacitance and impedance measurementdevice.

<Other Light-Responsive Signal Responsive Moieties>

In other embodiments of the cleavable signal element and assay device ofthe present invention, a light-absorbing rather than light-reflectivematerial can be used as a signal responsive moiety. The approach isanalogous to that used in recordable compact disks.

Although similar in concept and compatible with CD readers, informationis recorded differently in a recordable compact disk (CD-R) as comparedto the encoding of information in a standard CD. In CD-R, the data layeris separate from the polycarbonate substrate. The polycarbonatesubstrate instead has impressed upon it a continuous spiral groove as areference alignment guide for the incident laser. An organic dye is usedto form the data layer. Although cyanine was the first organic dye usedfor these disks, a metal-stabilized cyanine compound is generally usedinstead of “raw” cyanine. An alternative material is phthalocyanine. Onesuch metallophthalocyanine compound is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,580,696.

In CD-R, the organic dye layer is sandwiched between the polycarbonatesubstrate and the metalized reflective layer, usually 24 carat gold, butalternatively silver, of the media. Information is recorded by arecording laser of appropriate preselected wavelength that selectivelymelts “pits” into the dye layer, it simply melts it slightly, causing itto become non-translucent so that the reading laser beam is refractedrather than reflected back to the reader's sensors. As in a standard CD,a lacquer coating protects the information layers.

A greater number of light-absorbing dyes may be used in this embodimentof the present invention than may be used in CD-R. Light-absorbing dyesare any compounds that absorb energy from the electromagnetic spectrum,ideally at wavelength(s) that correspond to the wavelength(s) of thelight source. As is known in the art, dyes generally consist ofconjugated heterocyclic structures, exemplified by the following classesof dyes: azo dyes, diazo dyes, triazine dyes, food colorings orbiological stains. Specific dyes include: Coomasie Brilliant Blue R-250Dye (Biorad Labs, Richmond, Calif.); Reactive Red 2 (Sigma ChemicalCompany, St. Lois, Mo.), bromophenol blue (Sigma); xylene cyanol(Sigma); and phenolphthalein (Sigma). The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook ofStains, Dyes and Indicators by Floyd J. Green, published by AldrichChemical Company, Inc., (Milwaukee, Wis.) provides a wealth of data forother dyes. With these data, dyes with the appropriate light absorptionproperties can be selected to coincide with the wavelengths emitted bythe light source.

In other embodiments, the signal responsive moiety may be a fluorescer,such as fluorescein, propidium iodide or phycoerythrin, or achemiluminescer, such as luciferin, which responds to incident light, oran indicator enzyme that cleaves soluble fluorescent substrates intoinsoluble form. Other fluorescent dyes useful in this embodiment includetexas red, rhodamine, green fluorescent protein, and the like.Fluorescent dyes will prove particularly useful when blue lasers becomewidely available.

The present invention preferentially employs a circular assay device asthe substrate for the patterned deposition of light-reflective,light-scattering, light-absorptive, or fluorescent cleavable signalelements. In a preferred embodiment, the assay device is compatible withexisting optical disk readers, such as a compact disk (CD) reader or adigital versatile disk (DVD) reader, and is therefore preferentially adisk of about 120 mm in diameter and about 1.2 mm in thickness. It willbe appreciated, however, that the cleavable signal elements of thepresent invention may be deposited in spatially-addressable patterns onsubstrates that are not circular but rectangular.

The maximum number of cleavable signal elements that can be spatiallydiscriminated on an optical disk is a function of the wavelength and thenumerical aperture of the objective lens. One known way to increasememory capacity in all sorts of optical memory disk, such as CD-ROMs,WORM (Write Once Read Many) disks, and magneto-optical disks, is todecrease the wavelength of the light emitted by the diode laser whichilluminates the data tracks of the optical memory disks. Smallerwavelength permits discrimination of smaller data spots on the disk,that is, higher resolution, and thus enhanced data densities. CurrentCD-ROMs employ a laser with a wavelength of 780 nanometers (nm). CurrentDVD readers employ a laser with a wavelength between 635 and 650 nm. Newdiode lasers which emit, for example, blue light (around 481 nm) wouldincrease the number of signal elements that could be spatially addressedon a single assay device disk of the present invention. Another way toachieve blue radiation is use of a second harmonic generator (SHG) thatachieves frequency doubling of infrared laser by non-linear opticalmaterial.

Current CD-ROM readers employ both reflection reading and transmissionreading. Both data access methods are compatible with the presentinvention. Gold particles are especially suitable for use as a signalresponsive moiety for reflection type CD-ROM readers. Light-absorbingdyes are more suitable for transmission type readers such as the onesdiscussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,257.

<Other Signal Responsive Moieties>

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that signal responsivemoieties suitable for adaptation to the cleavable signal element of thepresent invention are not limited to light-reflecting or light-absorbingmetal particles or dyes. Suitable signal responsive moieties include,but are not limited to, any composition detectable by spectroscopic,photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, electrical, optical orchemical means. In preferred embodiments, suitable signal responsivemoieties include calorimetric labels such as colloidal gold or coloredglass or plastic (e.g., polystyrene, polypropylene, latex, etc.) beads,biotin-bound beads with labeled streptavidin conjugate, magnetic beads(e.g., DynabeadS™), radiolabels (e.g., ³H, ¹²⁵I, ³⁵S, ¹⁴C, or ³²P), andenzymes (e.g., horse radish peroxidase (HRP), alkaline phosphatase,etc.).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variationsof signal responsive moieties may be adapted to the cleavable signalelements of the present invention. A number of patents, for example,provide ari extensive teaching of a variety of techniques for producingdetectible signals in biological assays. Such signal responsive moietiesare generally suitable for use in some embodiments of the presentinvention. As a non-limiting illustration, the following is a list ofU.S. patents teach the several signal responsive moieties suitable forembodiments of the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,346,radioactive signal generating means; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,654,090, 3,791,932and 3,817,838, enzyme-linked signal generating means; U.S. Pat. No.3,996,345, fluorescer-quencher related signal generating means; U.S.Pat. No. 4,062,733, fluorescer or enzyme signal generating means; U.S.Pat. No. 4,104,029, chemiluminescent signal generating means; U.S. Pat.No. 4,160,645, non-enzymatic catalyst generating means; U.S. Pat. No.4,233,402, enzyme pair signal generating means; U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,300,enzyme anionic charge label. All above-cited U.S. patents areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Other signal generating means are also known in the art, for example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,021,236 and 4,472,509, both incorporated herein byreference for all purposes. A metal chelate complex may be employed toattach signal generating means to the cleavable signal elements. Inother embodiments, magnetic spheres may be used in place of reflectivespheres, and magnetic poles may be vertically aligned by treating thedisk with a magnetic field that is of sufficient strength. Since theempty sites will not have any magnetic material present, the presence orabsence of a target nucleic acid in the test sample can be identified.The location of the uncleaved signal element can be detected using anoptomagnetic sensor widely used in existing optomagnetic disks based onthe Kerr effect or a magneto resistance (MR) sensor.

Paramagnetic ions might be used as a signal generating means, forexample, ions such as chromium (III), manganese (II), iron (III), iron(II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), neodymium (III), samarium(III), ytterbium (III), gadolinium (III), vanadium (II), terbium (III),dysprosium (III), holmium (III) and erbium (III), with gadolinium beingparticularly preferred. Ions useful in other contexts, such as X-rayimaging, include but are not limited to lanthanum (III), gold (III),lead (II), and especially bismuth (III).

Means of detecting such labels are well known to those of skill in theart. Thus, for example, radiolabels may be detected using photographicfilm or scintillation counters, fluorescent markers may be detectedusing a photodetector to detect emitted light. Enzymatic labels aretypically detected by providing the enzyme with a substrate anddetecting the reaction product produced by the action of the enzyme onthe substrate, and calorimetric labels are detected by simplyvisualizing the colored label. Colloidal gold label can be detected bymeasuring scattered light. A preferred non-reflective signal generatingmeans is biotin, which may be detected using an avidin or streptavidincompound. The use of such labels is well known to those of skill in theart and is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837;3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149 and 4,366,241;each incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

<Patterned Deposition of Cleavable Signal Elements on Plastic Substrate>

A photoresist may also profitably be used to pattern the deposition ofcleavable signal elements. The resist is partially depolymerized byincident laser light during fabrication and can be dissolved from theseareas. The exposed or metalized portion of the plastic substrate istreated chemically, for example, aminated by ammonia plasma. After theresist is removed, the cleavable signal elements are attached to thesubstrate. The use of photoresists for the patterning of master disks iswell known in the compact disk fabrication arts.

Alternatively, instead of using a resist, a solid mask containing smallholes can be used during ammonia plasma treatment. Holes have a diameterof about 1 to 3 micrometers. The holes are located circularly in themask, forming a spiral track or a pattern that is a combination ofspiral and circular paths. The mask can be metal or plastic. Severalmetals, such as aluminum, nickel or gold can be used. Polycarbonate is apreferred plastic, because it will retain shape well. Plastics arereactive with the ammonia plasma, however, and a preferred method forusing plastic masks therefore involves depositing a metal layer on theplastic, by evaporation, sputtering, or other methods known in the art.Holes may be made in the mask by laser. Those with skill in the art willappreciate that it is possible to create 1000 1.mu.-sized holes in onesecond in a thin metal or plastic plate. Alternatively, the holes can beetched by using conventional methods known in the semiconductorindustry. In the mask approach to patterning the deposition of cleavablesignal elements, the mask is pressed against the substrate and subjectedto amination by ammonia plasma. The mask may be used repeatedly.

<SNP Detection in Nucleic Acid Hybridization Assay Using CleavableSignal Element>

In a nucleic acid hybridization assay according to the presentinvention, the capture probe of the cleavable signal element isoligonucleotides designed to hybridized to a complementary sequence of atarget nucleic acid to be detected in the sample. For many applicationsof this methodology, cross-reactivity with sample oligonucleotideshaving even a single mismatched nucleotide should be minimized. Inparticular, nucleic acid hybridization assays adapted to use thecleavable signal element of the present invention for detection of pointmutations, as, e.g., for detection of point mutations in the BRCA1 andBRCA2 genes that predispose to breast and ovarian cancers, must be ableto discriminate between nucleic acid samples containing a singlemismatched nucleotide, i.e., must be able to detect SNP.

The longer the oligonucleotides of the capture probe—and thus the longerthe sequence that is complementary between the oligonucleotides and thenucleic acid sample—the greater the possibility of erroneouslyrecognizing a mismatched sample, since the strength of hybridization,even given the presence of a mismatch, will be reasonably high.

Thus, one way to reduce erroneous recognition of mismatched nucleic acidsequences is to reduce the length of the oligonucleotides. Specificityis increased by shortening the length of the oligonucleotides to15-20-mers. In this case, the mismatched oligonucleotides would usefewer nucleotides for pairing and will form highly unstable binding atroom temperature. This unstable binding is denatured during the firstwash step and removed. However, multiple SNP detections at a pluralityof assay sites are required for diagnosing a certain disease.

FIGS. 11A through 11B show alternative embodiments of an assay deviceusing the cleavable signal element according to the present inventioncapable of both single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and geneexpression profile determination for diagnosis. Reference numeral 61denotes a center void of the substrate (disk) 70. An assay sector withshorter capture probes for SNP detection and an assay sector with longercapture probes (cDNA) for gene expression profile analysis are arrangedseparate on the substrate 70. The assay devices shown in FIGS. 11Athrough 11B can be modified in a variety of ways and forms according tothe arrangements shown in FIGS. 3A through 3D, to concurrently measureSNP and expression profile.

FIG. 11A shows that the assay sectors for SNP detection and expressionprofile analysis are arranged separate in an angular direction. FIG. 11Bshows that the assay sectors for SNP detection and expression profileanalysis are arranged separate in a radial direction. The concurrentdetermination of the DNP and expression profile doubles diagnosticreliability and reduces assay sites by appropriate combination of assaysites.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in greater detail with referenceto the following examples. The following examples are for illustrativepurposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1 Detection of HIV-1

HIV-1 proviral DNA from clinical samples is amplified as follows,essentially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,662, incorporated hereinby reference.

Peripheral blood monocytes are isolated by standard Ficoll-Hypaquedensity gradient methods. Following isolation of the cells, the DNA isextracted as described in Butcher and Spadoro, Clin. Immunol. Newsletter12:73-76 (1992), incorporated herein by reference. Polymerase chainreaction (PCR) is performed in a 100 μL reaction volume, of which 50 μLis contributed by the sample. The PCR contained the following reagentsat the following initial concentrations:

0.10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4) 50 mM KCl

200 μM each dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dUTP

25 pmoles of Primer 1 (sequence: 5′-TGA GAC ACC AGG AAT TAG ATA TCA GTACAA TGT-3′) 25 pmoles of Primer 2 (sequence: 5′-CTA AAT CAG ATC CTA CATATA AGT CAT CCA TGT-3′)

3.0 mM MgC₂

10% glycerol2.0 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer)2.0 units UNG (Perkin-Elmer)

Amplification is carried out in a TC9600 DNA Thermal Cycler (PerkinElmer, Norwal, Conn.) using the following temperature profile: (1)pre-incubation—50° C. for 2 minutes; (2) initial cycle—denature at 94°C. for 30 seconds, anneal at 50° C. 30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30seconds; (3) cycles 2 to 4—denature at 94° C. for 30 seconds, anneal for30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30 seconds, with the annealingtemperature increasing in 2° C. increments (from 52° C. to 58 C); (4)cycles 5 to 39—denature at 90° C. for 30 seconds, anneal at 60° C. for30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30 seconds.

Following the temperature cycling, the reaction mixture is heated to 90°C. for 2 minutes and diluted to 1 mL. Alternatively, the sample isstored at −20° C., and after thawing, heated to 90° C. for 2 minutesthen diluted to 1 mL.

The cleavable signal elements are attached in a uniform density to aderivatized 120-mm polycarbonate disk substrate, as described above.

First capture probe 5′-TAG ATA TCA GTA CAA-3′ portion: Second captureprobe 5′-TAT TCA GTA GGT ACA-3′ portion: First restriction probe5′-CCCGGG-3′ portion: Second restriction probe 5′-CCCGGG-3′ portion:

A suspension of gold microspheres, 1-3 μm in diameter, is added dropwiseto the disk, which is gently rotated to distribute the gold particles.Gold particles are added until the cleavable signal elements aresaturated with the gold particles. Cleavable signal elements labeledwith the gold particles at its end are attached in a uniform density toa derivatized 120-mm polycarbonate disk substrate, as described above.

Sample is applied at room temperature dropwise near the center of thestationary assay device, and the assay device is rotated. Rotation ishalted after the sample reaches the outer edge of the disk, and the diskis incubated in a stationary state at room temperature for 3-5 minutes(Hybridization reaction).

One mL of buffer is added dropwise as a washing solution while the diskis rotated, to distribute the buffer by disk rotation. The disk wasincubated in a stationary state for 1-2 minutes, then 5 ml of buffer isadded dropwise during vigorous rotation of the disk to wash the disk,with or without the application of an external electric field verticallythrough the disk (First Wash Step).

About 0.1 L of a DNA polymerase solution (e.g., PCR Core Systems I,Promega Corporation) containing a mixed solution of the four dNTPslisted above and a DNA polymerase is added dropwise while the disk isrotated, to distribute the DNA polymerase solution. The disk isincubated in a stationary state for 1-2 minutes (DNA extension).

A restriction enzyme solution (e.g., sma 1, Promega Corporation) thatrecognizes the sequence CCCGGG of the restriction probe is addeddropwise and distributed by disk rotation. The restriction enzymecleaves between C and G of the restriction probe sequence. The disk isincubated in a stationary state for 1-2 minutes (Cleavage Step).

Five mL of buffer was added dropwise during vigorous rotation of thedisk with or without the application of an external electric field(Second Wash Step). An appropriate restriction solution has a reactiontemperature of 37° C. and to contain 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.4), 300 mM KCl,0.1 mM EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid), 1 mM DTT(DiThioTreitol), 0.5 mg/mL BSA (Bovine Serum Albumine), and 50%glycerol.

The disk is dried, then read directly in a detector programmed to assayeach predetermined site upon which cleavable signal elements aredeposited, which includes an optical device, an electrochemical device,a mass measurement device, or a capacitance and impedance measurementdevice.

The diagnostic data and a prescription are displayed on a computermonitor, the computer automatically or manually accesses the Internet totransmit the diagnostic data to a specialist at a remote locationthrough the Internet. The patient waits for a prescription from thespecialist.

Example 2 Detection of HIV-1

HIV-1 proviral DNA from clinical samples is amplified as follows,essentially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,662, incorporated hereinby reference.

Peripheral blood monocytes is isolated by standard Ficoll-Hypaquedensity gradient methods. Following isolation of the cells, the DNA isextracted as described in Butcher and Spadoro, Clin. Immunol. Newsletter12:73-76 (1992), incorporated herein by reference. PCR was performed ina 100 μL reaction volume, of which 50 μL is contributed by the sample.The PCR contains the following reagents at the following initialconcentrations:

10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4) 50 mM KCl

200 μM each dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dUTP

25 pmoles of Primer 1 (sequence: 5′-TGA GAC ACC AGG AAT TAG ATA TCA GTACAA TGT-3′) 25 pmoles of Primer 2 (sequence: 5′-CTA AAT CAG ATC CTA CATATA AGT CAT CCA TGT-3′)

3.0 mM MgC₂

10% glycerol2.0 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer)2.0 units UNG (Perkin-Elmer)

Amplification is carried out in a TC9600 DNA Thermal Cycler (PerkinElmer, Norwal, Conn.) using the following temperature profile: (1)pre-incubation—50° C. for 2 minutes; (2) initial cycle—denature at 94°C. for 30 seconds, anneal at 50° C. 30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30seconds; (3) cycles 2 to 4—denature at 94° C. for 30 seconds, anneal for30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30 seconds, with the annealingtemperature increasing in 2° C. increments (from 52° C. to 58 C); (4)cycles 5 to 39—denature at 90° C. for 30 seconds, anneal at 60° C. for30 seconds, extend at 72° C. for 30 seconds.

Following the temperature cycling, the reaction mixture is heated to 90°C. for 2 minutes and diluted to 1 mL. Alternatively, the sample isstored at −20° C., and after thawing, heated to 90° C. for 2 minutesthen diluted to 1 mL.

Following cleaning a polycarbonate disk substrate, the surface of thedisk substrate is aminated by ammonia plasma and completely spray-coatedwith a solution of succinimidyl 4-maleimido butyrate (SMB), aheterobifunctional crosslinker, in a 1:10 mixture of DMF and sodiumbicarbonate buffer (50 mM, pH 8.5). The resulting polycarbonatesubstrate is tightly sealed and reacted for approximately 3 hours.Following washing with distilled water and drying, a HEPES buffer (10mM, pH 6.6, 5.0 mM EDTA) containing HS-oligonucleotide-biotin is appliedto the derivatized surface of the polycarbonate substrate to attach theHS-oligonucleotide-biotin in a uniform density, thereby constructing anassay device. The cleavable signal elements attached have the followingsequences:

First capture probe 5′-TAG ATA TCA GTA CAA-3′ (oligonucleotide) portion:Second capture probe 5′-TAT TCA GTA GGT ACA-3′ portion:

Sample is applied dropwise near the center of the stationary assaydevice, and the assay device is rotated. Rotation is halted after thesample reaches the outer edge of the disk, and the disk is incubated ina stationary state at room temperature for 3-5 minutes (Hybridizationreaction).

One mL of buffer is added dropwise as a washing solution while the diskis rotated, to distribute the buffer by disk rotation. The disk isincubated in a stationary state for 1-2 minutes, then 5 ml of buffer isadded dropwise during vigorous rotation of the disk to wash the disk,with or without the application of an external electric field verticallythrough the disk (First Wash Step).

A DNAse or nuclease solution is added dropwise and distributed by diskrotation. The disk is incubated in a stationary state for 1-2 minutes(Cleavage Step).

Following buffer addition, disk rotation, and a simple washing with theapplication of an external field, a suspension of streptoavidin-labeledgold microspheres is added dropwise to the disk surface, and the disk isgently rotated to evenly distribute the gold particles (label-attacheduncleaved probe structure formation), thereby resulting in abiotin-avidin binding structure. Next, distilled water is added dropwiseduring vigorous rotation of the disk to wash the disk, with or withoutthe application of an external electric field (Second Wash Step).

The disk is dried, then read directly in a detector programmed to assayeach predetermined site upon which cleavable signal elements aredeposited, which includes an optical device, an electrochemical device,a mass measurement device, or a capacitance and impedance measurementdevice.

The diagnostic data and a prescription are displayed on a computermonitor, the computer automatically or manually accesses the Internet totransmit the diagnostic data to a specialist at a remote locationthrough the Internet. The patient waits for a prescription from thespecialist.

Experimental Example 1 Optical Measurement

Following the hybridization reaction, first wash step, cleavage step,and second wash step according to Example 2, whether hybridization to atarget nucleic acid had occurred or not was determined by atomic forcemicroscopy (AFM). As a result, the topography images by AFM are shown inFIGS. 13A and 13B.

FIG. 13A is a topography image taken after hybridization ofbiotin-attached cleavable signal elements to an oligonucleotide sampleof a complementary sequence, in which after the hydbridization, thesubstrate was reacted with a mung bean-derived nuclease, washed, andadditionally labeled with streptavidin-coated 40-nm metal microspheres.Since the cleavable signal elements are double-stranded, the cleavablesignal elements are not cleaved by the nuclease, and the biotin-attachedcleavable signal elements remain on the substrate and form a“label-attached uncleaved probe” structure by additionally contactingthe streptoavidin-coated metal microspheres, thereby increasing opticalselectivity. Due to the streptoavidin-to-biotin coupling, thesensitivity of the detector is increased.

FIG. 13B is a topography image taken after reacting the biotin-attachedcleavable signal elements with an oligonucleotide sample of anon-complementary sequence, in which after the reaction, the substratewas reacted with a mung bean-derived nuclease, washed, and additionallylabeled with streptavidin-coated 40-nm metal microspheres. Since thecleavable signal elements remain as single strands, the cleavable signalelements are cleaved by the nuclease, and the biotin-attached cleavablesignal elements are removed from the substrate. As a result, even afteradditionally contacting the streptoavidin-coated metal microspheres, thecleavable signal elements do not form a “label-attached uncleaved probe”structure.

Apparently, the substrate is mostly covered with the metal microspheresin FIG. 13A, whereas few metal microspheres are shown in FIG. 13B.Differential signals from the metal microspheres are provided to thedetector.

Experimental Example 2 Impedance Measurement

Following the hybridization reaction, first wash step, cleavage step,and second wash step according to Example 2, whether hybridization to atarget nucleic acid had occurred or not was determined by measuring theimpedance characteristics with respect to frequency. The result is shownin FIG. 14.

As can be inferred form FIG. 13, differential impedance signals betweenthe uncleaved signal element (low impedance) and the cleaved signalelement (high impedance) are provided to the detector.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a cleavage techniquespecifically responsive to a complementary double strand or singlestrand of nucleic acids, a nucleic acid hybridization assay method anddevice using the cleavable technique, and a diagnostic method and systemcapable of more accurately diagnosing many kinds of diseases throughsingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and expression profiledetermination that can be concurrently determined. In a preferredembodiment according to the present invention, the diagnostic systemusing the nucleic acid hybridization assay method and device based onthe cleavage technique specifically responsive to the complementarydouble strand or single strand of nucleic acids can be modified fordetection with standard laser-based detection systems, including CD-ROMreaders and DVD readers, which enables self-diagnosis by patients athome without the need to go to a hospital. In addition, the presentinvention provides an assay device and method for detecting analytesusing the nucleic acid hybridization assay device according to thepresent invention. This analyte assay device and method are useful inassaying for a number of discrete analytes with a test sample and asingle analyte with multiple samples. The present invention alsoprovides a remote diagnostic system providing convenience to bothpatients and doctors, in which information read from the assay device isdigitized as software and transmitted to and received by patient anddoctor through an existing communication network, such as the Internet.

1. A bio-driver apparatus for detecting a nucleic acid comprising: anucleic acid hybridization assay device comprising: a cleavable signalelement comprising: a capture probe of a single strand having acomplementary sequence to a target nucleic acid; and a restriction probeof a single strand not being complementary to the target nucleic acid,wherein one end of the restriction probe is ligated to the captureprobe; and a solid support substrate attached to the other end of therestriction probe; and a driver-body which contains a loader, a detectorand a motor, wherein the solid support substrate is to be mounted andloaded onto the loader, the detector detects whether the cleavablesignal elements are cleaved or not, and the motor rotates or moves thesolid support substrate.
 2. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe nucleic acid hybridization assay device further comprises arestriction enzyme, and the restriction probe has a particular sequenceto be cleaved by the restriction enzyme specific to a double strand ofthe particular sequence after the restriction probe forms a doublestranded restriction probe by DNA extension in the presence of a DNApolymerization solution using a hybridized target nucleic acid as aprimer.
 3. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acidhybridization assay device further comprises a cleavage enzyme, and whenthe capture probe of the cleavable signal element contacts a sampleincluding the target nucleic acid of the complementary sequence, thecapture probe is double-stranded through hybridization to the targetnucleic acid, the corresponding restriction probe is double-stranded bythe extension of DNA using the target nucleic acid hybridized to thecapture probe as a primer, the double-stranded capture probe is cleavedby the cleavage enzyme specifically responsive to the double strand ofnucleic acids, wherein the cleavage enzyme specifically responsive tothe double strand of nucleic acid is a DNAse.
 4. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid hybridization assaydevice further comprises a cleavage enzyme, when the capture probe ofthe cleavable signal element contacts a sample not containing the targetnucleic acid of the complementary sequence, the capture probe and thecorresponding restriction probe remains as a single strand even afterthe extension of DNA, the single-stranded capture probe is cleaved bythe cleavage enzyme specifically responsive to the single strand ofnucleic acid, wherein the cleavage enzyme specifically responsive to thesingle strand of nucleic acid is a nuclease.
 5. The bio-driver apparatusof claim 4, wherein the nuclease is derived from mung bean
 6. Thebio-driver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capture probe has a lengthranging from about 5- to about 30-mers.
 9. The bio-driver apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein a label is attached to one end of the capture probe toform a label-attached capture probe structure.
 10. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 9, wherein the label is one or more selected from thegroup consisting of a metal microsphere, a conducting polymer, afluorescent dye, a magnetic microsphere, and a streptavidin-labeledmicrosphere.
 11. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedetector is one or more selected from the group consisting of an opticaldevice, an electrochemical device, a mass measurement device, or acapacitance and impedance measurement device.
 12. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cleavable signal elementsare deposited on the solid support substrate in a spatially-addressablepattern.
 13. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solidsupport substrate is formed of a circular disk.
 14. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 13, wherein the circular disk has a diameter ofapproximately 120 mm and a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm.
 15. Thebio-driver apparatus of claim 13, wherein the circular disk comprises acentral void to engage a rotational drive means, a sample injection portthrough which a sample is injected, and an annular and/or a spiral trackin which the plurality of cleavable signal elements are deposited in thespatially-addressable pattern.
 16. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 15,wherein an address pattern that provides coded address information isformed on the circular disk.
 17. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 13,wherein the circular disk comprises a central void to engage arotational drive means, a sample injection port through which a sampleis injected, and a radial assay sector in which the plurality ofcleavable signal elements are deposited in the spatially-addressablepattern.
 18. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circulardisk comprises a plurality of assay sectors.
 19. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of assay sectors areconnected to respective separate sample injection ports or a commonsample injection port.
 20. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 18, whereinthe plurality of cleavable signal elements are deposited in each of theplurality of assay sectors in an appropriate pattern for asingle-analyte assay or a multiple-analyte assay.
 21. The bio-driverapparatus of claim 13, wherein the circular disk includes one or moreselected from the group consisting of a database associated withbioinformatics required for diagnosis and assay interpretation, andtelephone numbers, web link information and software required for remotediagnosis.
 22. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 13, wherein thedetector is mounted on the circular disk, and comprises a non-contactinterface through which information read from the cleaved signal elementand the uncleaved signal element is transmitted to an external centralcontroller or storage device.
 23. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 13,wherein the circular disk simultaneously comprises at least one SNP(single nucleotide polymorphism) assay sector for SNP detection and atleast one expression assay sector for expression profile analysis. 24.The bio-driver apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a rotaryconnector which connects the motor to a central void portion of thecircular disk such that the circular disk is rotatable, and an opticaldevice to write data in or to read data from the circular disk.
 25. Thebio-driver apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a centralcontroller which transmits information read from the disk by the opticaldevice to an external storage unit, transmits information to be writtento the optical device, and generates and outputs a variety of controlsignals for the motor.
 26. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 24, whereinthe rotary connector comprises an upper rotor and/or a lower rotor, theupper and lower rotors being pushed close to the top and bottomsurfaces, respectively, of the central void portion when the circulardisk begins to rotate.
 27. The bio-driver apparatus of claim 22, furthercomprising an electromagnet attached to the loader, and theelectromagnet induces an AC voltage to a wound coil on the circular diskso that the detector is powered in a non-contact manner.
 28. Thebio-driver apparatus of claim 11, wherein the capacitance and impedancemeasurement device comprises interdigitated array electrodes having atleast one digit and arranged on the solid support substrate.
 29. Thebio-driver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid support substrate isformed of a plurality of circular disks.
 30. The bio-driver apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: a communication network; a computer towhich the driver-body is connected; and a software installed in thecomputer, wherein the software is capable of controlling access to thecommunication network and digitizing information read from the nucleicacid hybridization assay device, wherein the digitized information istransmitted to a doctor or a hospital, and a patient is provided with aprescription, through the communication network.